Sam Smith has faced huge controversy after the Grammy performance last night with Kim Petras.
Now, Sam Smith isn’t just a pop star… Although that in itself is pretty awesome.
They’re also a role model for many.
The songwriter revealed that they have struggled more than they thought they would have after coming out as “non-binary.”
And the revelation really shocked a lot of Sam’s fans.
Because, in more recent times…
Smith has become well-known as the face of the non-binary movement.
And they’ve been doing a lot for those who are also non-binary…
Paving the way in which we view and address gender norms as a society.
But before that, Smith was more commonly known as one of the most successful pop stars of the decade.
From Cambridgeshire, England, Smith made their first big break after their collaboration with Disclosure in the track “Latch” back in 2012.
Their Disclosure collaboration instantly landed them a record deal…
And, by early 2013, they had released “Lay Me Down,” the first single from their debut album, In the Lonely Hour. Other hits include “Stay With Me” and “Too Good at Goodbyes.”
They have frequently written songs about love and relationships with other men.
The themes defined In the Lonely Hour, in particular, had been composed in the wake of a romantic rejection by a heterosexual man.
In a candid interview with British GQ, Smith detailed their experience with sexuality, explaining how “not fitting in” can make them feel “really depressed and sad.”
The singer also recalled “violent and scary” experiences within the gay community shortly after moving to London, admitting that they were forced to have therapy to come to terms with the “traumatic” encounters.
And that’s not all they admitted, either.
In a revealing interview with actress, Jameela Jamil, Smith discussed topics such as fame, body image, and confidence.
They then went on to admit that they have experienced conflicting emotions about their gender identity.
As a child, Smith revealed that they were “chubby” and “carried extra estrogen” in their chest, making them self-conscious and more susceptible to bullies.
“I had breasts,” Smith said. “I used to get my mom to write a note to the school when I was like 8 so I wouldn’t have to go to swimming lessons. So it’s something that’s been in me forever.”
It’s lovely to see them opening up about their past, though.
Even sharing a topless picture on their Instagram, along with the caption: “In the past, if I have ever done a photoshoot with so much as a t-shirt on, I have starved myself for weeks in advance and then picked and prodded at every picture and then normally taken the picture down.” “Yesterday I decided to fight the f**k back. Reclaim my body and stop trying to change this chest and these hips and these curves that my mum and dad made and love so unconditionally.”
As well as their weight, Smith’s gender identity has been an issue for them for years.
“I’ve always had a little bit of a war going within my body and my mind,” they said in the interview. “I do think as a woman sometimes, in my head. Sometimes I’ve questioned ‘Do I want a sex change?'” “It’s something I still think about, like, ‘Do I want to?'”
They had never before discussed their gender identity.
“I’ve always been very free in terms of thinking about sexuality, so I’ve just tried to change that into my thoughts on gender as well.” They further clarified identifying as genderqueer, stating “Non-binary/genderqueer is that you do not identify in a gender. You are a mixture of all different things. You are your own special creation.”
It was after reading up on the definition of gender non-binary that Smith realized their true identity.
“When I saw the word non-binary, genderqueer, and I read into it, and I heard these people speaking, I was like, ‘f**k, that is me,” the hitmaker revealed.
And they revealed something shortly after…
Their announcement that they wish to use gender-neutral pronouns, and even wants others to use them when referring to them. So, instead of “he,” “him,” and “his,” they want to use “them,” “they,” and “their.”
It wasn’t just a snap decision, though.
A source close to the star explained:
“This is a decision Sam has thought long and hard about, including doing a lot of reading on up it. [They] know that it will take some people longer than others to fully get it.”
“First the request is going out to mates and then it will be passed on to the music industry too. It’s an exciting and groundbreaking time for them.”
Sam also had an interview with James Corden.
Revealing that they struggled “more than they thought they would” with announcing their non-binary status… and despite a few negative reactions, fans were loving Smith’s authenticity.
However, this week Smith has hit headlines for a different controversy.
With Smith’s controversial Grammy performance going viral.
They took to the stage with German pop star and trans icon Kim Petras.
Performing their song “Unholy” – but it wasn’t to everyone’s tastes.
One person wrote: “Somebody named Sam Smith dressed as Satan performed a song called ‘Unholy’ at the #GRAMMYs. They’re indoctrinating your children.”
Another added: “Sam Smith and Kim Petras performing their disgusting song titled ‘Unholy’ at the 2023 Grammys. I didn’t want to post this video but I have to expose how satanic the music industry is. This is so demonic. Stop listening to this GARBAGE. It’s witchcraft! Seek Jesus.”
A third opined: “Grammys is just pure devil worship. Just flipped over to it, and Sam Smith was basically doing satanic crap on stage…It’s all so effin gross and disgusting.”
Yet in spite of the naysayers, it seemed to be a great night for Smith and Petras.
They won a Grammy Award for the track in the Best Duo/Group Performance category.
Petras said: “Sam graciously wanted me to accept this award because I am the first transgender woman to win this award.”
She also thanked “all the incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open for me so I could be here tonight.”
Congratulations to the pair!
What did you think of their performance?