#Benedict Cumberbatch Plays Morrissey-Inspired Character on The Simpsons, Angers Morrissey

Benedict Cumberbatch voiced an animated Morrissey-like singer on The Simpsons last night (April 18). The character, named Quilloughby, is a depressed British crooner from the 1980s who becomes Lisa Simpson’s imaginary friend. The episode was titled “Panic on the Streets of Springfield,” a spoof on the Smiths’ 1986 single “Panic.” Find two clip from the episode below.

As he wrote on social media, Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie co-wrote the faux-Morrissey songs featured in the episode with Tim Long. McKenzie wrote that he “woke up at 3 a.m. in New Zealand to record the sultry crooning of Benedict Cumberbatch in London and zoomed a few sweet harmonies in L.A. with Yeardley Smith.” Find his full post below.

A post on Morrissey’s official Facebook page criticized “Panic on the Streets of Springfield” aired. “Sadly, The Simpson’s show started out creating great insight into the modern cultural experience, but has since degenerated to trying to capitalize on cheap controversy and expounding on vicious rumors,” the post reads. Additionally, the post criticizes the makers of The Simpsons for “[using] harshly hateful tactics like showing the Morrissey character with his belly hanging out of his shirt.”

Last month, a trailer for the Smiths-inspired movie Shoplifters of the World was released. The film, directed and written by Stephen Kijak, is based on a largely embellished story about a deranged Smiths fan who held a Denver radio station hostage by gunpoint in the ’80s, demanding that the DJs play only songs by the Smiths.

Revisit “Does the Mexican-American Community Still Love Morrissey, Despite Everything?” on the Pitch.