© 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved.
Sam Smith Dedicated His Oscar to the LGBT Community. Here's Why His Speech Sparked Backlash.

Sam Smith Dedicated His Oscar to the LGBT Community. Here's Why His Speech Sparked Backlash.

"Do your homework, Sam Smith."

Singer-songwriter Sam Smith won his first Oscar Sunday evening. When his name was announced, an emotional Smith took the stage to accept his award, which he dedicated to the LGBT community.

Smith and writing partner Jimmy Napes each received Oscars for “Writing’s on the Wall” from the James Bond film “Spectre,” following singer Adele’s Oscar-winning Bond song “Skyfall” in 2013.

Jimmy Napes, left, and Sam Smith pose with the award for Best Original Song for "�Writing�s on the Wall"� from �the James Bond film "Spectre"� at the Oscars Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

“I stand here tonight as a proud gay man, and I hope that we can all stand together as equals one day,” Smith, 23, said in his speech.

The singer also mentioned that he might have been the first openly gay man to win an Oscar, which was not accurate.

“I read an article a few months ago by Sir Ian McKellen, and he said that no openly gay man had ever won an Oscar,” he said. “If this is the case — even if it isn't the case — I want to dedicate this to the LGBT community all around the world.”

It was not the case. McKellen’s article specifically addressed the fact that an openly gay man has yet to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, not just an Oscar.

English actor John Gielgud was the first openly gay actor to win an Oscar for his role in the 1981 comedy “Arthur.”

Even though Smith proceeded with caution and qualified his claim, the star still received surprisingly angry and irritated backlash on Twitter:

Other openly gay men who have won Oscars in the past include Dustin Lance Black, who won Best Original Screenplay for the movie “Milk” in 2008, Elton John, who took Best Original Song for “Circle Of Life” from Disney's "The Lion King" in 1994, and Alan Ball, who won Best Original Screenplay for “American Beauty” in 2000.

Smith performed a shaky version of the winning song while donning a Bond-esque tux. Lady Gaga brought the audience to tears Sunday evening with her Oscar-nominated song “Til It Happens to You.”

But at least Smith looked the part. After the show, Smith posted an Instagram photo with a shoutout to menswear designer Dunhill, saying, “Thank you Dunhill. I FEEL SO GOOD!”

Thank you @laurensarmes @pauledmonds217 @katesomervilleskincare @georginahamed and DUNHILL. I feel so good xx

A photo posted by Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) on

Watch Smith’s Oscar performance:

(H/T: Daily Mail)

Want to leave a tip?

We answer to you. Help keep our content free of advertisers and big tech censorship by leaving a tip today.
Want to join the conversation?
Already a subscriber?