Morrissey has claimed that New York arena Madison Square Garden will ban meat and dairy products for his upcoming gig at the venue.
The 18,200 capacity venue will host a concert from the former Smiths frontman on June 27. In a recent open letter to Al Gore, in which he urged the US politician not to serve meat at the forthcoming Live Earth event, Morrissey wrote, “Not only is it possible for venues to provide a 100 per cent meat-free menu-as is done now at every concert venue in which I perform, including Madison Square Garden, where I have a show at the end of June – it’s also a moral duty.”
Now, The New York Post reports that the arena will indeed go vegan for the show. However, the paper also reports that not all staff members and vendors had been informed of the news.
“We’d have to close half the floor,” said one member of staff, while Daily Burger owner Drew Nieporent claimed that it was “the first time I’m hearing about it”.
Nieporent, though, added that he would be willing to fulfil the singer’s requests. He stated: “But I love my man Morrissey. He’s a wonderful artist, so I wouldn’t mind. He can do whatever he wants… We’ll just go and enjoy the music.”
In Morrissey’s letter to Gore, sent on behalf of PETA, he claimed that “serving meat and dairy products at an event to combat climate change is like selling pistols at a gun-control rally” and that it is Gore’s “moral duty” to promote a vegan diet at the event, which will be marked with concerts in New York, South Africa, Australia, China, Brazil and Paris on June 18.
“If you choose to serve animal flesh at Live Earth, you’ll be making a mockery of the very concept of the event, in which case it should be renamed “Dead Earth: We Contributed!’,” Morrissey added.
In February, Morrissey cancelled a gig in Iceland due to the venue refusing to not sell meat on the night of the show. “I love Iceland and I have waited a long time to return, but I shall leave the Harpa Concert Hall to their cannibalistic flesh-eating bloodlust,” Morrissey said in a statement at the time.