Johnny Marr has responded to Morrissey's open letter.
Marr took to social media to respond to Morrissey's open letter in less than 140 characters. His terse response calls out Morrissey's old fashion use of an open letter format and what Marr calls "fake news." Marr tweeted:
Dear @officialmoz . An ‘open letter’ hasn’t really been a thing since 1953, It’s all ‘social media’ now. Even Donald J Trump had that one down. Also, this fake news business…a bit 2021 yeah ?#makingindiegreatagain
— Johnny Marr (@Johnny_Marr) January 26, 2022
An 'open letter' hasn't really been a thing since 1953, It's all 'social media' now. Even Donald J Trump had that one down. Also, this fake news business...a bit 2021 yeah ? #makingindiegreatagain
In Marr's defense, he usually isn't the one bringing up Morrissey in interviews and has been reluctant to discuss The Smiths and Morrissey. However, journalists are more than eager to insert those questions into interviews to stir the pot and get a better headline. After Marr gives them a response, those comments turn into the headline of the story, get turned into clickbait, etc.
That being said, as to the issue of open letters not being a thing anymore, Marr himself signed an open letter just a few years ago in 2018.
So far there's no further comment from Morrissey.
In any event, Smiths' fans can focus on honoring the 35th anniversary of "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" which happens this week.