NEW YORK, June 11 (UPI) -- Singer Morrissey canceled the rest of his current U.S. tour dates and blamed his respiratory infection on his opening act, Kristeen Young.
"It is with great sadness that the remainder of the US Tour has been cancelled," the 55-year-old British singer said in a statement via his Facebook page. "The respiratory infection Morrissey contracted in Miami has worsened, and in the interest of making a full recovery, all further touring plans have been halted. Morrissey thanks his fans for their compassion, understanding, and well-wishes during this difficult period as he recuperates."
The former Smiths frontman, whose real name is Steven Patrick Morrissey, collapsed backstage during a performance in Boston on Saturday, according to the singer's semi-official fan site True to You.
The True to You report blamed Young, an American singer, for passing her "horrendous cold" on to Morrissey. Young contradicted the report in a Facebook post that has since been deleted.
According to The Guardian, Young wrote that she had suffered from an allergy attack, not a cold, but Morrissey's management team still asked her to leave the tour.
"I am very sorry that Morrissey is not feeling well," she said, but "will not tolerate these lies."
"This is really too much and bizarre," she added.
Morrissey had to cancel his last U.S. tour due to multiple medical problems, including a bleeding ulcer and pneumonia. He said at the time that his doctors had advised him to give up on touring.
"I have been cautioned to, but it's difficult for me because it's very ingrained in me."
