Smith, 32, is undoubtedly one of the biggest artists of today, known for hit songs such as ‘I’m Not the Only One,’ ‘Stay with Me,’ and ‘Dancing with a Stranger.’
Over the years, despite their large fanbase, they’ve been subject to intense criticism, with disapproval directed at their ‘satanic’ performance at the Grammys and the outfit they wore at the Brits. But now, people are jumping to the pop star’s defense after they were repeatedly misgendered on a TV show.
Smith came out as non-binary in 2019, sharing their preference for they/them pronouns. The ‘Promises’ singer wrote on social media: “After a lifetime of being at war with my gender I’ve decided to embrace myself for who I am, inside and out.
“I understand there will be many mistakes and misgendering but all I ask is you please please try. I hope you can see me like I see myself now. Thank you.”
They added: “I am at no stage just yet to eloquently speak at length about what it means to be non-binary but I can’t wait for the day that I am. So for now I just want to be VISIBLE and open.”
Since coming out as non-binary, Smith has repeatedly been misgendered.
Smith said, via the Mirror: “I do love fishing. I’d love to be a fisherthem.”
Jones asked the singer whether they meant something like a ‘fly fisherman,’ to which they responded: “I’d be any type of fisher-them. One day I’d just like to end my days fishing.”
At the Grammys, a reporter with the Associated Press incorrectly referred to Smith by male pronouns while discussing their evolving style. The reporter said, per The Independent: “Sam Smith has had a lot of controversy around his outfits this past year, I love that he’s continuing to push the mold, love that he’s continuing to break out from the Sam Smith that we knew at the ballads.
“He’s still singing those ballads, but he’s definitely diving fully in, into pop music, and we can see that, not only in his music but also in his looks as well.”
On the daytime TV show This Morning, Bob Geldof misgendered Smith during a live segment, leading to the program’s presenters being criticized for not issuing a correction. Pink News reports that he/him pronouns were repeatedly used by Geldof when referring to the artist. In a radio interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music’s New Music Daily, Smith acknowledged the struggles of misgendering.
They said (per People): “What’s hard is people changing their vocabulary; that’s very, very difficult. It takes time. Everyone messes up. I’m going to be misgendered to the day I die.
“This is going to take a long, long time for people to not use gender in their vocabulary.”
