Morrissey accuses Johnny Marr of destroying The Smiths' legacy in controversial online essay

Morrissey again fired scathing criticism at his former bandmate, Johnny Marr, in an essay published and later removed from his official website. The publication, titled "The Art of Forgery", comes amid expectations for the release of a new BBC documentary about the history of the iconic band The Smiths, scheduled to air on July 13, 2026. In the text, Morrissey expresses his dissatisfaction with the way Marr has handled the band's narrative, accusing him of monopolizing the spotlight in several documentaries that address the end of The Smiths. The singer states that Marr is portrayed as an "angel" while he himself appears as an "executioner", highlighting that, even after forty years, Marr seems unable to move forward and remains stuck in the past, ignoring the truth of the facts. The conflict between the two dates back to 2024, when Morrissey revealed that Marr turned down a financially advantageous proposal for a band reunion. Furthermore, Morrissey accused Marr of registering trademarks related to The Smiths' name, which would have prevented the release of a new compilation. Marr, in turn, justified that the action aimed to protect the band from third parties who could profit unduly from the brand, and clarified that he did not ignore the offer for the tour, but simply refused. In the essay, Morrissey also denies an old accusation that he fired bassist Andy Rourke by leaving a note in his car. He claims he never hired Rourke and therefore had no authority to fire him. The vocalist also highlights that the entire identity of The Smiths, including lyrics, song and album titles, artwork and vocal melodies, belongs exclusively to him, criticizing the stance of the press, especially the newspaper The Guardian, which according to him, loves the band but hates Morrissey, which he considers a contradiction and theater. Morrissey spared no criticism of The Smiths' producer, Grant Showbiz, who appears in the new documentary, classifying his comments as defamatory and regretting the disappointment, as he has always had great respect for him. The singer accuses Marr of purposely dividing the band's fans into rival groups, reinforcing that the guitarist dedicated his entire life to "killing Morrissey" in every way possible, while practicing what he calls the "predatory sport" of incessantly insulting him. Furthermore, Morrissey questions Marr's authenticity regarding the lyrics of the song "How Soon Is Now?", suggesting that the guitarist never truly felt them, and ironizes his departure from the band Pretenders, insinuating that Marr was unable to maintain his place in The Smiths for more albums. In conclusion, Morrissey reaffirms his resilience and artistic creativity, contrasting with those who, according to him, destroy for money and have nothing left to offer. He ends the text with a reflection on his use of the third-person pronoun, justifying it as a way of making reading easier. This new chapter in the long dispute between Morrissey and Johnny Marr reignites the debate about the legacy of The Smiths and the complex relationship between its members, especially given the proximity of the release of the BBC documentary, which promises to bring to light more details and interpretations about the band's trajectory.