Alanis Morissette Defends Green Day Singer, Covers ‘Basket Case’ on ‘Kimmel’
Alanis Morissette hit Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday night, expressing her support for Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong and his recent substance abuse treatment by playing a yearning, slowed and stripped-down cover of “Basket Case.” Touched by Armstrong’s troubles, Morissette also spoke out in defense of Armstrong in an interview with Billboard, showing her admiration for the rocker and making it clear she hopes he will get the assistance he needs.
“We’re all figuring it out, so let’s just support the fragile artist,” she said. “I’ve always been an advocate and supporter of artists and Billie Joe to me – he deserves to be bowed down to . . . He’s been in this industry for a long time and so for him to experience the consequence of a system that kind of set it up for him to fail is a travesty to me.”
Morissette also praised Armstrong’s courage. “I think he’s braver than I am,” she said. “Also women being upset are deemed hysterical. Men being upset are deemed valiant. It’s a little more dangerous for a woman to flip out in that way.”