Morrissey's manager joins in blasting The Simpsons, but says the singer likely hasn't watched the episode that he called "hurtful and racist"

USA Today

Peter Katsis, who manages Morrissey, responded to Sunday's episode, in which Benedict Cumberbatch portrays a Morrissey-esque character. Katsis said The Simpsons "has since degenerated to trying to capitalize on cheap controversy and expounding on vicious rumors," adding: "When a show stoops so low to use harshly hateful tactics like showing the Morrissey character with his belly hanging out of his shirt (when he has never looked like that at any point in his career) makes you wonder who the real hurtful, racist group is here." Katsis' comments come after Morrissey issued a lengthy statement on Facebook slamming the portrayal that episode writer Tim Long called "definitely Morrissey-esque."