Is Morrissey Gay? The Singer Keeps His Love Life Private, Though He Once Addressed His Sexuality
Morrissey, an acclaimed musician known for his highly private nature, once sparked gay rumors after revealing his past relationship with a man. However, the artist later clarified his sexuality in a very technical way.
Born in Manchester, England, Morrissey became famous in the early 1980s as a member of the renowned British rock band, The Smiths. He later ventured into a successful solo career in 1988.
Morrissey has embraced the life of a rock star on his own, and his journey to stardom has sparked the insatiable curiosity of his devoted fans, particularly regarding his sexuality.
Morrissey performs on stage at Volkswagen Arena on December 17, 2014, in Istanbul, Turkey. | Source: Getty Images
Beyond the Veil of Morrissey's Influential Music
Morrissey, a highly influential figure in the music industry, has amassed a dedicated fan base due to his distinctive blend of indie rock and alternative music that has successfully made its way to the mainstream.
He is famous for incorporating gender ambiguity in his music. In 1986, he claimed that he intentionally avoided using explicit boy-girl or same-sex references in his lyrics, striving to create music that appealed to everyone.
Morrissey's Autobiography Reveals His past Relationship with a Man
At the time, Morrissey believed that revealing things too explicitly would hamper the observer's imagination, leaving nothing left to explore or contemplate. He explained:
"I find when people and things are entirely revealed in an obvious way...It freezes the imagination of the observer. There is nothing to probe for, nothing to dwell on or try and unravel. With the Smiths, nothing is ever open and shut."
However, as the years passed, Morrissey's perspective shifted away from keeping things explicit for himself or the band. Several years ago, he opened up about his private life, which includes his past relationships in his book, "Morrissey Autobiography."
The musician's autobiography made headlines in October 2013. In the book, Morrissey revealed that during his 30s, he had a relationship with Jake Walters in 1994.
Morrissey explained his belief that if more men were homosexual, there would be no wars.
The renowned singer recounted that Walters followed him to his house after meeting him at a restaurant. Afterward, Walters stayed with him for two years, and it was the first time the acclaimed artist felt a deep connection with someone.
Morrissey noted that he and Walters had a strong bond, preferring each other's company instead of anyone else's presence. They enjoyed pushing the limits of their closeness without causing any significant conflicts, and their relationship went beyond occasional disagreements.
The book also mentioned that Morrissey entertained the idea of having a baby with his friend Tina Dehghani, noting that they had an "uncluttered commitment."
Morrissey Claims He's 'Humasexual'
After revealing a same-sex romance in his autobiography, many fans became curious about Morrissey's sexuality. Soon after the book's release, the singer clarified his sexuality through the now-defunct website True to You.
According to a report in Mirror, Morrissey denied he is homosexual. Instead, he said he is technically a "humasexual," meaning that he is drawn to humans and does not limit his love based on gender.
Despite his earlier claims that he is not gay, Morrissey discussed his political causes in February 2013. He touched upon subjects such as refusing to eat animals, war, and homosexuality.
He explained his belief that if more men were homosexual, there would be no wars, as "homosexual men would never kill other men." On the other hand, he suggested that heterosexual men did the opposite.
Morrissey has been private about his life. After gaining attention for his autobiography, his discussion of gay relationships appears to have been removed from the U.S. edition of the book several months later.
In December 2013, it was reported that the U.S. version of the story changed some details about Morrisey and Walters's relationship. The book also omitted Walters' name from a story about a night he and the singer spent with Chrissie Hynde from The Pretenders.
Morrissey is one of the many celebrities who has been rumored as gay. Like him, actors Zac Efron, Adam DeVine, Tom Ellis, Channing Tatum, Sebastian Croft, and Dan Benson have been the subject of gay rumors but are allies of the LGBT community.