Morrissey denies claims that he asked bodyguard to 'hurt fan'

Bradley Steyn alleges that the Smiths frontman asked him whether a fan he disliked 'could be gotten rid of'

Morrissey has denied allegations that he ordered a security guard to beat up a fan, after the bodyguard claimed the singer asked him to “hurt” a man he disliked.

Bradley Steyn apparently claims that the Smiths frontman hired him after a performance in San Jose where he was barged on stage by fans.

According to TMZ, Steyn has filed a lawsuit in which he alleges that he later realised Morrissey had more unsavoury intentions, asking him whether a man - who has since been identified as David Tseng, who runs the fan website Morrissey-Solo.com - “could be gotten rid of”.

Steyn alleges that he rejected the proposition and was fired the next day.

However, Morrissey’s lawyer wasn’t able to clarify to The Independent whether or not a lawsuit had been filed.

Morrissey firmly rejected the allegations on Wednesday, calling the story a “vexatious lie”. In a statement on his semi-official fanzine, he wrote: “I cannot admit to actually 'knowing' Bradley Steyn. Yes, I am aware that he is South African and that he lives in Los Angeles, and that he has 'walked off' three Morrissey tours - which really is his own business, not mine.

“My personal involvement with him has been zero, and he has certainly never been Head Of Security on any Morrissey tour.”

Morrissey admitted to “disliking” Tseng’s website, but added: “The very idea that I would ask a complete stranger (Bradley Steyn) to physically attack David Tseng surely cannot register with any sane person as being likely. As mildly irritating as David Tseng may be, he is not someone who troubles me enough to even bother with.”

Tseng, who started the website in 1997, posted on the platform on Thursday: “Earlier today I talked to some media (TMZ Live and my previous employer Yahoo Music) briefly about this site and the security guard lawsuit, which was first published on TMZ.

“I appreciate everyone's concern. I don't know any details about the actual incidents that may have taken place.”

Tseng told Yahoo Music: “It’s a pretty serious allegation... even criminal, I would think, if it’s true.”

Morrissey said in his statement: “Please note that Bradley Steyn's statement is now in the hands of the Los Angeles Police Department, and is subject to both criminal and civil action.”