By Jared Evan

(TJV NEWS) British rock icon Morrissey, one of the most influential voices of the 1980s, has canceled two New England concerts after what his team described as a “credible threat” to assassinate him onstage. The canceled dates — at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut and Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway — were announced just days after a Canadian man was charged for allegedly posting a death threat tied to Morrissey’s Sept. 12 festival set in Ottawa.

Canadian authorities say 26-year-old Noah Castellano threatened on social media to “shoot” the former Smiths frontman during his Ottawa performance. Despite the online threat, Morrissey still performed at CityFolk on Sept. 12 and followed up with shows in Toronto and New York before tightening security and canceling the New England dates.

Fan video of Morrissey and his band performing at Radio City last week

The chilling development comes against the backdrop of heightened fears over political violence following the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was gunned down while speaking at a Utah college. The two cases, though different, highlight a disturbing trend: outspoken figures on the right — or even those merely holding views outside progressive orthodoxy — are increasingly being singled out by far-left radicals.

A Complex Voice, Not a Typical Right-Winger

Morrissey, now 66, is far from a conventional conservative. Rising to fame as the lead singer of The Smiths, he became an icon of gay rights, a passionate advocate for animal welfare, and one of the earliest celebrities to speak openly about vegetarianism and later veganism. His cultural contributions and sharp wit made him a household name across generations.

Yet Morrissey has never shied away from controversial political stances. He has criticized mass immigration policies, defended right-wing campaigner Tommy Robinson’s free speech rights, and praised Ann Marie Waters, the founder of the anti-Islam “For Britain” party, as “a humane version of Thatcher.” He has also condemned halal meat, calling it “evil” and linking it to extremism, and blasted UK leaders for endorsing Muslim festivals while, in his view, ignoring animal cruelty.

Such statements have provoked fierce backlash, with critics labeling him a racist or extremist — accusations Morrissey rejects. He has often argued that the media deliberately distorts his words, insisting that criticism of Islam or immigration policy does not make one a bigot. His positions place him in a rare category: a lifelong progressive on issues like animal and gay rights who also takes a hard line against practices tied to Islam and Britain’s immigration model.

Dangerous Climate for Unpopular Opinions

It is precisely this mixture of views that may have made Morrissey a target. His criticisms of Islam and multiculturalism break sharply with left-wing orthodoxy, and the death threat against him fits into a growing pattern: when figures challenge progressive dogma, some radicals view them not just as opponents but as enemies to be silenced.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk just days earlier underscores this climate. Kirk, a staunch conservative and Trump ally, was murdered on stage by a gunman with leftist ties. Morrissey’s situation is different — he is not a standard bearer of the right — but both men became lightning rods simply for expressing views that clashed with the left.

Free Speech Under Threat

For Morrissey, who has spent decades as a cultural provocateur and musical innovator, the latest threats are a grim reminder of how dangerous it has become for artists and public figures to speak their minds. Whether one agrees with his views or not, the attempt to silence him through violence is a direct attack on free expression.

Morrissey’s career has been defined by his willingness to challenge social and political taboos — from animal rights to sexuality to identity politics. That legacy, admired by millions, is now under shadow as extremists attempt to intimidate him into silence.

Just as with the murder of Charlie Kirk, the lesson is clear: far-left radicals are increasingly willing to use or encourage violence against anyone whose ideas they despise. And while Morrissey is no typical right-wing figure, his ordeal shows that simply daring to hold unconventional views can now make one a target.