I wish I understood French.

However, that was worth watching just for the rehearsal shots.

Actually, having read most of the responses on the last thread about this issue, the reason I'm posting here is to express my bafflement at those gunning for Morrissey's blood over this victory.

It's been implied that he is 'greedy', when in fact, he was more than satisfied with an apology. Where's the money changing hands here? Oh, actually Morrissey has lost money on this one, because his good name is more important than cash.

It's also been implied that he's an enemy of free speech. Well, I wonder how any of us would respond if (for instance) a neighbour took out an article in the local press saying that we only paid lip service to anti-racism and that we were hypocritical. I guess those criticising Morrissey over this wouldn't care if their own name was slandered in such a fashion.

The critics on this site seem to be so sure in their hatred of what Morrissey has 'become' that I wonder why they still come here. Maybe they can provide an answer? Are they masochistic? Are they secretly obsessed with Morrissey and this causes them to badmouth him at every opportunity because they can't deal with the fantasies taking over their lives? Or maybe they've always hated Morrissey and somehow the need to slag him off is greater than the need to go and waste their energy over something they actually like? In which case, I pity the fact they've got nothing in their lives about which they're passionate.

If you are a former fan and disallusioned I will say this: Constructive criticism and satirical material is good and shouldn't be silenced; slander and abuse is unacceptable.

As for myself and (I imagine) many other fans, we see little or no difference in Morrissey from when he fronted The Smiths. He has always been protective of his own honour and that of his friends and collaborators. He may well be too confrontational and too outspoken for his own good, yet it has ever been the same. As fans, we may not wholeheartedly agree with everything Morrissey says and does, but we do agree with most things, because that's the deal; the man is his music and his fans found him because we saw an essential part of ourselves reflected back at us from that music. If you came to be a fan of Morrissey under false pretences, then I can only say I'm sorry you've been disappointed, but you really should have looked before you leapt.