Back in July, British crooner Morrissey got a first-hand lesson in American post-9/11 airport intimacy when he was catching a flight out of San Francisco International.
Except the rock legend made it into a much bigger deal, alleging his “penis and testicles” were groped by a TSA agent.
He even went so far as to issue a warning that anyone traveling through SFO should “expect sexual abuse from the so-called ‘security officers.'”
Related: Morrissey: TSA At San Francisco Airport “Groped My Penis And Testicles”
How about we take this to the next level?
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The TSA denied any wrongdoing, and issued this statement to Rolling Stone:
“TSA takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and strives to treat every passenger with dignity and respect. Upon review of closed circuit TV footage, TSA determined that the supervised officer followed standard operating procedures in the screening of this individual.”
Here he is doubling down on those claims to Larry King, who we’re sure never has a problem with being groped:
If only there were a way we could check out that closed circuit footage.
Well, Gawker saw an opportunity and groped it — we mean grabbed it.
Via the Freedom Of Information Act (of all things), here’s the footage. Morrissey is the chap in the blue shirt:
A little handsy? Perhaps. And admittedly, the agent is blocking the camera when he kneels in front of the moody singer.
But we’d be fairly shocked if this TSA agent was just waiting for the opportunity to up his frisking game on Morrissey.
Bauhaus
Bitch please. TSA checks my knob more thoroughly than my luggage.
oilburner
As much as I luv Morrissey & The Smiths this bitch just sounds old & crazy.
crowebobby
A similar thing happened to me at a foreign check point years ago. Something I said (not flirtatious) clued the guy that I was gay and he grabbed and squeezed my chest and buttocks as if he were grouping a woman (it was an exaggerated action meant to humiliate not to flirt). I was travelling with a troupe of fashion models to do a show for Dior and a formal complaint would have screwed up everyone’s schedule, plus it would have been my word against his. A punch in the mouth would have put me in prison probably to this day. (Not that it would have made any difference in terms of the injustice, but I have never been immediately recognizable as gay . . . in case anyone thinks I swished in there batting my eyelashes at him.) I know it wasn’t a big deal, but the humiliation and helplessness one experiences in these situations never quite goes away.
NoCagada
@crowebobby: ” I was travelling with a troupe of fashion models to do a show for Dior ”
Oh, BABY! You must be FIERCE! GURL, I AM AFRAID OF YOU!
Like we NEEDED to know that? What’s next? A stint at the Don Loper Salon?
NoCagada
@crowebobby: “but the humiliation and helplessness one experiences in these situations never quite goes away.”
And you assuaged your pain at the nearest bath house?
da90027
At his age just be grateful…lol
Bauhaus
@NoCagada:
I’ll wager the nearest airport restroom, troupe in hand.
Spike
As if a TSA is going to get his rocks off feeling up and old f.ck like him. In his dreams.
Sweetie Pie
Bitch, please
DarkZephyr
@NoCagada: @Bauhaus: Jealousy is ugly.
OhHellNo
He wishes.
Steve Hanson
You’re an old man who teased your fans for years with ambiguous lyrics. Get over it.
Dan Menachem
He looks like his penis would bite.