Morrissey has hit back at his appearance in The Simpsons.
The English singer is the latest pop star parodied in the long-running animated series and it seems some of the jokes may have landed too close to home.
Aired in the US last Sunday, the episode Panic on the Streets of Springfield skewers all aspect of Morrissey's career, from former band The Smiths (now called The Snuffs) to his veganism and controversial politics.
It was the latter Morrissey seemingly took offence to, with his character portrayed as a meat eater with anti-immigrant leanings.
Morrissey released a statement condemning the episode and claiming the incident was part of a wider public push to discredit him.
"You are especially despised if your music affects people in a strong and beautiful way, since music is no longer required to," he said.
"In a world obsessed with hate laws, there are none that protect me.”
Despite his disdain, Morrissey finds himself joining a star-studded club of musical personalities featuring in the show – some of whom went as far as making official guest appearances over its 21-year run.
Here are 10 artists and groups, in no particular order, who have set foot in Springfield.
1. George Harrison (1993)
Music cameos work best when celebrity and story are in song.
Such was the case when Harrison appeared in an episode following the success of Homer Simpson’s former barber shop quartet, The Be Sharps.
Oblivious to his own fame at the time, the episode finds Homer recalling meeting Harrison and being more excited by the brownie he was eating than the late Beatle himself.
2. The Ramones (1993)
"My, these minstrels will soothe my jangled nerves," a haggard Mr Burns says before the punk group arrives to his party and deliver a blistering Happy Birthday rendition, complete with insult, to the tycoon.
Burns was not pleased and, in one of his greatest lines, declares: “Have the Rolling Stones killed?”
3. Spinal Tap (1992)
About to release 1992 album Break Like the Wind in real life, the group promoted the release by popping into The Simpsons.
Their interview with Springfield radio station is full of the winning banter ("we are big in Bulgaria") that made 1984 spoof documentary This Is Spinal Tap a cult success.
4. Michael Jackson (1991)
Playing the role of hospital inmate Leon Kompowsky, Jackson’s performance in this 1991 episode was more of a supporting character than a mere cameo.
Believing Leon’s false claim that he is Michael Jackson, Homer invites the gentle giant to Springfield where his arrival causes quite a stir.
5. Coldplay (2010)
Coldplay have never had a problem poking fun at themselves.
In this episode, they plan an arena concert solely for Homer Simpson, after he wins the lotto.
Not caring for their on-stage theatrics, Homer tests the nerves of frontman Chris Martin after frequently halting the performance to ask inane questions.
6. Lady Gaga (2012)
If you know your Lady Gaga trivia, then her episode was a real treat.
Arriving to Springfield on her tour train, The Lady Gaga Express, the singer is shocked to see residents depressed and stays in the city to lift their spirits.
The episode parodies many of Gaga's exuberant fashion choices over the years. The winning segment is Homer eating her famed meat dress.
7. Zooey Deschanel (2013)
Zooey Deschanel delivers one of the oddest bossa nova tunes on record with lyrics about an ex who was "horrid" and how she "can't even tell where his hair meets his forehead".
Watching the live performance is an exasperated Bart, who curses the fact he brought Deschanel a rhyming dictionary.
8. NSync (2001)
Fair game to NSync for appearing in an episode that skewers boy bands.
With his rebel streak, Bart is invited to join the manufactured pop group Party Posse, whose rise to stardom is aided by the kind of studio trickery Milli Vanilli would have been proud of.
On tour they meet NSync and a friendly rivalry ensues.
9. Tom Jones (1992)
Tom Jones was held captive by Mr Burns after failing to help the businessman land Marge Simpson's affections.
The episode ends with Jones delivering a private performance to Homer and Marge, while chained under the watchful eye of Mr Burns.
"Get help love," he pleads to Marge amid It's Not Unusual. "Get me a hacksaw, anything."
10. The Baha Men (2002)
This was probably the most inconsequential guest appearance of the entire series.
The pop group appeared on the show two years after the release of novelty tune Who Let the Dogs Out.
The whole premise of their appearance is to sing various versions of the hit.
Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Director: Sharat Katariya
Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav
3.5/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
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Result
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR
US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.
KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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The Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG (“Bank”) assumes no liability or guarantee for the accuracy, balance, or completeness of the information in this publication. The content may change at any time due to given circumstances, and the Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG is under no obligation to update information once it has been published. This publication is intended for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer, a recommendation or an invitation by, or on behalf of, Liechtensteinische Landesbank (DIFC Branch), Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG, or any of its group affiliates to make any investments or obtain services. This publication has not been reviewed, disapproved or approved by the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”) Central Bank, Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”) or any other relevant licensing authorities in the UAE. It may not be relied upon by or distributed to retail clients. Liechtensteinische Landesbank (DIFC Branch) is regulated by the DFSA and this advertorial is intended for Professional Clients (as defined by the DFSA) who have sufficient financial experience and understanding of financial markets, products or transactions and any associated risks.
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
