Morrissey Says “Diversity Is A Lie” Because The BBC Won’t Play His New Single

You're never going to believe this, but Morrissey is mad about something. Last month, the man posted a lengthy screed about an as-yet-unannounced BBC documentary about his old band the Smiths, claiming that it will depict his former bandmate and longtime adversary Johnny Marr as an "angel" at Morrissey's own expense. Now, Morrissey claims that BBC radio is similarly biased about his own single "Notre-Dame," claiming that he's being blacklisted even thought the people clearly want to hear it.

Earlier this year, Morrissey returned with his album Make-Up Is A Lie, his first new record after a protracted public standoff with his former record label Capitol. The new album includes "Notre-Dame," his song about the 2019 fire at the Paris cathedral. That's the song that Morrissey changed before its release, taking out a lyric about "terrorism."

Last month, Morrissey released a deluxe vinyl version of "Notre-Dame." Over the weekend, his Morrissey Central website posted that the "Notre-Dame" single "is number 6 in the Official UK Chart." But despite that placement, the song evidently isn't getting any play on the BBC. In a statement posted on that website, Morrissey cites that lack of airplay as evidence that "diversity is a lie." That's the headline on the post. Here's Morrissey's statement:

The public wants to hear the song, but the BBC will not play it even though their stations are a public service duty-bound to reflect public taste. Obviously not! If the song is suspected of independent thought - God forbid!, it is not played, therefore, under these circumstances, any station that pledges allegiance to diversity is lying. When people say ‘Diversity is our strength’ they fail to mention how their notion of ‘diversity’ entails very strict Third Reich regulations and punishments. I wonder why people can’t simply be honest about these things?

It's true that the "Notre-Dame" single debuted at #6 on the Singles Sales Chart, which is topped by Phoebe Bridgers' "Lost Boys." That doesn't mean that "Notre-Dame" is a pop hit though. On the actual Official Singles Chart, Sam Fender and Olivia Dean's duet "Rein Me In" is in its 15th week at #1, making it one of the longest-reigning chart-toppers in the country's history.