British singer-songwriter Morrissey is
standing by controversial comments he made in defense of actor Kevin
Spacey over accusations of sexual misconduct.
In an interview earlier this month with
German news site Spiegel, Morrissey claimed that the allegations
against Spacey don't “sound very credible,” adding that Spacey
was being “attacked unnecessarily.”
Star Trek: Discovery actor
Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of sexual misconduct when the two actors
were working on Broadway and Rapp was 14.
(Related: Kevin
Spacey comes out gay; Apologizes for sexual advances toward Anthony
Rapp at 14.)
Since Rapp named Spacey (Rapp had
previously discussed the incident), multiple men have revealed their
“me too” stories.
“As far as I know, he was in a
bedroom with a 14-year-old. Kevin Spacey was 26, boy 14. One wonders
where the boy’s parents were. One wonders if the boy did not know
what would happen,” Morrissey
said.
“I do not know about you, but in my
youth I have never been in situations like this. Never. I was always
aware of what could happen,” he added. “When you are in
somebody’s bedroom, you have to be aware of where that can lead to.
That’s why it does not sound very credible to me. It seems to me
that Spacey has been attacked unnecessarily.”
Morrissey faced widespread criticism
for his remarks.
In a new interview this week, Morrissey
insisted that “we have to keep everything in proportion.”
“You must be careful as far as
'sexual harassment' is concerned because often it can be just a
pathetic attempt at courtship,” Morrissey told The
Sunday Times.
“I'm sure it's horrific, but we have
to keep everything in proportion. Do you not agree? I have never
been sexually harassed, I might add,” he responded when asked to
clarify.