Morrissey has been criticized for calling Chinese people as a "subspecies" because of their treatment of animals.

The controversial singer, a well-known vegetarian and animal rights campaigner, said the treatment of Chinese circus animals was "absolutely horrific".

"Did you see the thing on the news about their treatment of animals and animal welfare? Absolutely horrific. You can't help but feel that the Chinese are a subspecies," he told poet Simon Armitage in an interview in Guardian Weekend magazine.

A spokesman for campaign group Love Music Hate Racism, which received a donation of 28,000 pounds from the star in 2008, said it would not accept his support again, reports the Mirror.

Martin Smith said: "It really is just crude racism.

"When you start using language like 'subspecies', you are entering into dark and murky water. I don't think we would, or could, ask him to come back after that," Smith added. (ANI)