The singer’s last U.S. trek ended in a premature cancellation after he reportedly suffered a respiratory infection contracted in Miami. Moz expressed “unimaginable sorrow” for the early exit, claiming he caught the illness from opening act Kristeen Young, who then decided to step down from the tour. Young issued a since-deleted Facebook statement on the matter, claiming that she was battling allergies, not a cold ”“ and clarifying that she was asked to leave.
Morrissey’s guitarist, Jesse Tobias, then released a statement criticizing Young for her comments. “I am upset that in this situation Kristeen could not take the tour as a whole into consideration and just comply with the postponement announcement,” he wrote. “One could only assume it was necessary for her to justify herself and ultimately receive some promotion out of the matter.”
But Morrissey has battled more serious issues in recent months. In October, the musician revealed that he’s been through a cancer scare ”“ even though his attitude toward the disease is anything but frightened.
“They have scraped cancerous tissues four times already, but whatever,” he told Spanish-language El Mundo. “If I die, then I die. And if I don’t, then I don’t. Right now I feel good. I am aware that in some of my recent photos I look somewhat unhealthy, but that’s what illness can do. I’m not going to worry about that. I’ll rest when I’m dead.”