Morrissey provides update after suffering “the very worst case of online identity fraud”
Morrissey has provided an update on an ongoing legal case related to individuals allegedly impersonating him on social media.
In April 2025, the former frontman of The Smiths took to his website, Morrissey Central, to reveal that he’d been contacted by online protection firm The Web Sheriff, who had “discovered an online campaign of fraud, disinformation and defamation targeting Morrissey”.
The initial post described it as “one of the worst and most malicious ever seen by the team”, noting that The Web Sheriff had previously worked with Beyoncé, Prince, Bob Dylan, Adele and Radiohead on similar cases.
It claimed that the “the campaign against Morrissey is characterized by fake websites, impersonation on social media, identity fraud, and sustained harassment” across social media sites, which Morrissey “has not ever visited”.
The post went on to describe the alleged campaign as an “attempt to associate the artist with false narratives designed to destroy his career”.
Now, a new update on Morrissey Central reads: “Eighteen months ago The Web Sheriff contacted Morrissey’s ex-manager, Merck Mercuriadis. 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.”
It claims these individuals allegedly urged fans to “actively join factions and movements advocating various political ideas”, which were not named.
One of the nine individuals is alleged to have “found to have posted 1,800 online messages” and it’s claimed another, whose “commentaries severely harmed Morrissey’s status and character”, allegedly had “connections to an ex-member of The Smiths”.
It goes on to add that Morrissey has never owned a smartphone, been active on social media or joined a political party.
The post continues, “The planned operation to take police action against the nine individuals requires appointment of two legal firms. The financial commitment of extensive and unremitting expenditure is outside of Morrissey’s personal capacity to shoulder.”
In regards to the next steps of the investigation, the update on Morrissey Central concludes “the next move is under consideration”.
Meanwhile, Morrissey recently confirmed plans to return to the UK later this year for a run of arena dates in December, which will see him visit Brighton, Cardiff, Liverpool, Leeds and Glasgow.
Additionally, this summer, Morrissey will embark on a more extensive European tour, which will see him visit cities including Berlin, Warsaw, Budapest, Llujiblana, and Porto.
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