"You hadn't the guts to support her when she was alive," says Morrissey in tribute to Sinead O'Connor

Former Smiths frontman, Morrissey, has criticised tributes to the late Sinead O'Connor following her passing yesterday evening.

According to Morrissey, O'Connor's contemporary, many of these tributes are not only insincere, but a disrespect to O'Connor's memory. Morrissey posted an impassioned letter laying out his grievances with the industry's treatment of O'Connor in a blog post on his website.

"There is a certain music industry hatred for artists that don't 'fit in'... They are never praised until death - when, finally, they can't answer back," He wrote.

"The cruel playpen of fame gushes with praise for Sinead today with the usual moronic labels of 'icon' and 'legend.' You praise her now ONLY because it is too late. You hadn't the guts to support her when she was alive and she was looking for you."

He continued, "She was degraded as those few who move the world are always degraded. Why is ANYBODY surprised that Sinead O'Connor is dead? Who cared enough to save Judy Garland, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, Marilyn Monroe, Billie Holiday?"

While some of Morrissey's recent public statements might seem to clash with Sinead's own beliefs, he undoubtedly had great respect for her as both an artist and activist.

O'Connor worked professionally with members of the Smiths, including bassist Andy Rourke, who passed away in May, and drummer Mike Joyce. Rourke also played on her album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, which topped the charts in both the US and UK.

"Was this music madness worth Sinead's life?" Morrissey asks.

"No it wasn't. She was a challenge, and she couldn't be boxed up, and she had the courage to speak when everyone else stayed safely silent. She was harassed simply for being herself. Her eyes finally closed in search of a soul she could call her own."

A documentary film chronicling O'Connor's life and career will be available to stream on Sky and NOW from this Saturday July 29.

Read more about O'Connor, including interviews from past issues of Hot Press here.