The Sopranos star Michael Imperioli has come to the defence of the controversial singer Morrissey, saying that he continues to give the ex Smiths frontman the benefit of the doubt. Imperioli criticised the music industry for abandoning Morrissey-likening his situation to Irish singer Sinead O’Connor.

‘Sopranos’ star #MichaelImperioli defends ex-Smith’s frontman #Morrissey https://t.co/APGIP9pi9g

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Fans will be most familiar with Imperioli’s role as Christopher Moltisanti in what many critics call one of the greatest TV series of all time, The Sopranos. But the American actor has also proven adept at music, playing guitar and providing lead vocals for his band Zopa- releasing one studio record to date titled, La Dolce Vita.

The actor has now voiced his support of Morrissey, who is no stranger to making headlines himself, often for all the wrong reasons-being, in the past, accused of racism and bigotry. Imperioli still considers himself a staunch fan and defended the musician in a recent interview with The Guardian.

Imperioli said about Morrissey, “he’s uncompromising and very true to his art, to himself. As a lyricist, he’s on the level of Bob Dylan and Lou Reed to me: his intelligence, his wit and point of view. I think that’s why so many people connect to him, people who feel like outsiders. When they hear his lyrics and see him perform, they feel less alone in the world.”

Imperioli was introduced to bands like The Smiths when he was a young teenager living in Manhattan and attending acting courses. Bands like The Smiths provided him with a sense of freedom to express himself in a large city where it was easy to get lost in the crowd.

The actor, who appeared on the dark comedy anthology series The White Lotus, described Morrissey as being abandoned by the music industry in a not too dissimilar way to O’Connor who also courted controversy throughout her career. Imperioli said, “I thought what he wrote about Sinead O’Connor was spot on and brilliant-how easily she was abandoned by the music industry. He was as well….He’s on the edge of controversy a lot and they shy away from that. I’m not sure how racist the things he said were. To me they weren’t flagrantly racist….I still give him the benefit of the doubt. I know a lot of people don’t, but somehow I still do.”

Steven Patrick Morrissey, known mononymously, rose to fame as the frontman for legendary 80s act The Smiths. Acrimony between Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr led to the band’s split and to the successful solo careers of both artists.

Since 2022, Morrissey has had a turbulent relationship with Capitol Records-claiming the label had dropped him after his support for the far-right, anti-Islam political party For Britain came to light. In 2019, the artist was seen wearing a badge for the group during a live performance on Jimmy Fallon. Capitol has thus far declined to release his latest album Bonfire Of Teenagers, although Morrissey has announced that he finished a new album in 2023 titled Without Music The World Dies and is looking for a label to distribute it.