Morrissey has spoken more about his ongoing legal case, which sees him targeted by “the very worst case of online identity fraud”.
The singer and former Smiths frontman shared an update with fans last spring, writing on his website that he was involved in a legal battle after discovering that someone was allegedly impersonating him online.
He said that he had been in touch with an online protection firm called The Web Sheriff, who reached out to him to say that had “discovered an online campaign of fraud, disinformation and defamation” that targeted him.
“The scale of the manipulation is one of the worst and most malicious ever seen by the team, who have worked on similar cases for Beyoncé, Prince, Bob Dylan, Adele and Radiohead,” the update on Morrissey Central read.
“The campaign against Morrissey is characterised by fake websites, impersonation on social media, identity fraud, and sustained harassment on Facebook, X, Twitter, Instagram – all social networks that Morrissey has not ever visited,” it added. “Emerging online data is falsely signed in Morrissey’s name in an attempt to associate the artist with false narratives designed to destroy his career.”
It also added that the posts impersonating him stem back “several years”, and reiterated that the singer has “no personal presence on such networks, and has not ever possessed a smartphone”.
😱 Morrissey says he has suffered what was described as “the very worst case of online identity fraud”
The singer says nine people have been urging fans to join political factions and movements in Morrissey’s name
Full statement: https://t.co/WMJrbMZz0l pic.twitter.com/1k5gVG8PiU
— Morrissey and Wine (@mozandwine) June 11, 2026
Now, Morrissey has shared an update on the case, writing on his website that they now believe nine people are involved in the impersonations.
“Eighteen months ago The Web Sheriff contacted Morrissey’s ex-manager, Merck Mercuriadis,” the new update read. “The Sheriff advised Merck that they had discovered ‘the very worst case of online identity fraud’ – namely, nine individuals masquerading as Morrissey operating on behalf of various political groups.”
The post went on to claim that the people behind the scams were urging fans to “actively join factions and movements advocating various political ideas” – although did not explicitly share which “movements” they referred to.
Of the nine people, the post alleges, one allegedly posted “1,800 online messages”. The update also claims that another of the nine people had “connections to an ex-member of The Smiths” and posted messages that “severely harmed Morrissey’s status and character”.
As for how he is proceeding in the legal battle, the update said that there is a “planned operation to take police action against the nine individuals” and it “requires appointment of two legal firms”. It added that “the financial commitment of extensive and unremitting expenditure is outside of Morrissey’s personal capacity to shoulder.”
Morrissey’s update closed things off by saying that the “next move” in the investigation is currently “under consideration”.
“Morrissey has not ever been active on open forums, and has not ever owned a smart-phone, or contributed to Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, or joined a political party.”
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? – MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY – MORRISSEY CENTRAL https://t.co/LRxx9FlECt
— Matthew Jacobson – (@MatthewMozzer) June 11, 2026
In last year’s update, the team representing Morrissey accused an individual of publishing “an enormous amount of material about our client on an almost daily basis”, as well as having “left and/or posted written notes at and to” Morrissey’s home (as per Music Business Worldwide).
Their claim also alleged that the “narrative of [that person’s] posts almost exclusively relates to ‘far right’ politics, and in particular, those politics which are the antithesis of our client and what he has always stood for and represented.”
They also described Morrissey as “a pacifist, apolitical” person who has “never joined a political party or voted”, saying that those behind the fraud were “creating and perpetuating a harmful global narrative that is inaccurate, defamatory and has driven the media to repeat these falsehoods.”
There has been some controversy over Morrissey’s rumoured political stance in recent years – with the singer previously expressing support for far-right political party For Britain, wearing their badge during a 2019 television appearance.
In the past, he has also described the Chinese people as a “subspecies”, referred to Hitler as ‘left wing’, and claimed that London Mayor Sadiq Khan “can not talk properly”. After being criticised for supporting English Defence League Founder Tommy Robinson, he issued a statement in which he said he “despised racism and fascism” and voiced his support for Muslims.
The former Smiths frontman released his 14th solo album ‘Make-Up Is A Lie’ in March via Sire Records, and has gone on to announce a European headline tour to take place over the summer.
Last month, he confirmed plans for a UK tour, set to take place in December. Those shows do not include any London stops, and come on the heels of the singer playing what had been previously billed as his only UK concert of the year at The O2 in London in February.
He also cancelled multiple shows in the US earlier this year, citing “artist illness” and an “adverse reaction to a prescription medication”. He then axed a live date in Valencia last month “due to sleep deprivation”.
In other news, Morrissey has claimed responsibility for the initial idea for the iconic photograph of The Smiths taken outside Salford Lads Club, and corrected Johnny Marr about the history of the band signing with Rough Trade.
He has also been announced as one of the headline acts for this year’s CBGB Festival in New York in September, alongside the likes of Patti Smith, Interpol and Sex Pistols featuring Frank Carter.
