An open letter from Morrissey sees the singer alleging that he was sexually assaulted earlier this week by airport security at San Francisco International Airport, ahead of a flight back to the UK.
The post, which was delivered through True to You, explains that Morrissey went to the airport this past Monday (July 27) to catch a flight to London. While he said he made it through "the usual airport security procedure," including a scanner, he was apparently groped by an airport security officer while he was in the process of collecting his personal items.
"Before I could gather my belongings from the usual array of trays I was approached by an 'airport security officer' who stopped me, crouched before me and groped my penis and testicles," Morrissey writes. "He quickly moved away as an older 'airport security officer' approached."
Morrissey adds that the offending officer was "General Manager On Duty."
Two members of British Airways Special Services, whom Morrisey says "were horrified at the sexual attack," suggested that he file a complaint. He did so, but also confronted the security officer, which apparently didn't go so well. After the musician told the officer that he had groped him illegally, the employee allegedly responded with, "That's just your opinion."
"Apart from 'that's just your opinion,' he would not comment, even though, since the penis and testicles were mine and no one else's, then my opinion must surely have some meaning," Morrissey wrote.
"But, of course, what the airport security officer was saying was: your opinion will never count in the eyes of the law. The words 'that's just your opinion' volunteered themselves from this 'officer's' mouth before he had even heard the question. He knew he could be confronted, but he also knew that he could never be challenged (even though the entire incident is most certainly on CCTV camera)."
Morrissey closed the message, "you should expect sexual abuse from the so-called 'security officers' who, we are unconvincingly warned, are acting only for our security."
As of press time, representatives for the San Francisco International Airport have not commented publicly on the matter.
UPDATE: A representative from the TSA released a statement to Rolling Stone, saying, "TSA takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and strives to treat every passenger with dignity and respect," Mike England says. "Upon review of closed circuit TV footage, TSA determined that the supervised officer followed standard operating procedures in the screening of this individual."
The post, which was delivered through True to You, explains that Morrissey went to the airport this past Monday (July 27) to catch a flight to London. While he said he made it through "the usual airport security procedure," including a scanner, he was apparently groped by an airport security officer while he was in the process of collecting his personal items.
"Before I could gather my belongings from the usual array of trays I was approached by an 'airport security officer' who stopped me, crouched before me and groped my penis and testicles," Morrissey writes. "He quickly moved away as an older 'airport security officer' approached."
Morrissey adds that the offending officer was "General Manager On Duty."
Two members of British Airways Special Services, whom Morrisey says "were horrified at the sexual attack," suggested that he file a complaint. He did so, but also confronted the security officer, which apparently didn't go so well. After the musician told the officer that he had groped him illegally, the employee allegedly responded with, "That's just your opinion."
"Apart from 'that's just your opinion,' he would not comment, even though, since the penis and testicles were mine and no one else's, then my opinion must surely have some meaning," Morrissey wrote.
"But, of course, what the airport security officer was saying was: your opinion will never count in the eyes of the law. The words 'that's just your opinion' volunteered themselves from this 'officer's' mouth before he had even heard the question. He knew he could be confronted, but he also knew that he could never be challenged (even though the entire incident is most certainly on CCTV camera)."
Morrissey closed the message, "you should expect sexual abuse from the so-called 'security officers' who, we are unconvincingly warned, are acting only for our security."
As of press time, representatives for the San Francisco International Airport have not commented publicly on the matter.
UPDATE: A representative from the TSA released a statement to Rolling Stone, saying, "TSA takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and strives to treat every passenger with dignity and respect," Mike England says. "Upon review of closed circuit TV footage, TSA determined that the supervised officer followed standard operating procedures in the screening of this individual."
