British singer Morrissey claims he was "groped" by a TSA officer during a routine security check at the San Francisco Airport on July 27, according to a blog post on the musician's website, True To You.
"Before I could gather my belongings from the usual array of trays I was approached by an 'airport security officer' who stopped me, crouched before me and groped my penis and testicles. He quickly moved away as an older 'airport security officer' approached," he wrote.
Morrissey also revealed that he was accompanied by two members of British Airways Special Service, who advised him to file a complaint against the alleged assailant, identified as the "General Manager On Duty," according to The Huffington Post.
The former Smiths frontman goes on to claim that before the complaint was filed, he confronted the officer, who repeatedly told him: "That's just your opinion."
"Apart from 'that's just your opinion', he would not comment, even though, since the penis and testicles were mine and no one else's, then my opinion must surely have some meaning. But, of course, what the airport security officer was saying was: your opinion will never count in the eyes of the law," Morrissey added.
TSA spokesperson Mike England has denied Morrissey's allegations. "TSA takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and strives to treat every passenger with dignity and respect," England said. "Upon review of closed circuit TV footage, TSA determined that the supervised officer followed standard operating procedures in the screening of this individual," Rolling Stone reported.
The singer was in California to conclude his U.S. tour and will return to the country next month, to perform a string of dates, including a performance at the FYF Fest in Los Angeles.
