A TV presenter was recently slammed for misgendering English singer-songwriter Sam Smith by calling the “Unholy” singer a “he”.
Smith, known for various hit tracks in the music industry, uses they/them pronouns.
Although they’ve been subject to criticism over the years, such as when facing backlash over their “satanic” performance at the Grammys, people took to the singer’s defence.
The singer came out as non-binary in 2019, publicly announcing their they/them pronouns.
“After a lifetime of being at war with my gender I’ve decided to embrace myself for who I am, inside and out,” Smith wrote on a social media post.
“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,” they added.
“Thank you.”
They continued: “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.”
Despite coming out as non-binary, Smith still gets misgendered even on TV.
While appearing on The One Show, Smith corrected Television presenter Alex Jones for misgendering them.
As per the Mirror, Smith said: “I do love fishing. I’d love to be a fisherthem.”
However, Jones asked them if they instead meant “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.”
Another instance of this happening included an Associated Press reporter referring to the singer with male pronouns.
As per The Independent, the reporter said: “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.”
Bob Geldof, while on This Morning, misgendered Smith during a live segment of the show, which led to the presenters being criticized for not correcting him.
Geldof, as per Pink News, repeatedly used he/him pronouns when referring to Smith.
As per People, Smith said in an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music’s New Music Daily: “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.”
They added: “This is going to take a long, long time for people to not use gender in their vocabulary.”
While talking with Australian outlet The Project, the singer further said: “It’s like, ‘It’s okay, but it is important’ – you know?”
“All I can say is, when people use my pronouns correctly, it’s a wonderful feeling. I feel safe, and I feel happy, and I feel completely seen.”
Famous TV presenter Lorraine Kelly also suffered criticism for misgendering Smith, while talking about their red carpet appearance at the Barbie movie event.
Smith, on the carpet, wore an oversized black sweatshirt and large flared jeans.
“Oh, he’s dressed down,” and “It’s a bit big for him. If he was my son, I’d say, ‘Son, that was a bit big for you.’ He looks like the wee shrinking man, bless him,” Kelly said.
Smith’s fans were quick to defend, taking to social media to slam her misgendering them.
“I guess Lorraine didn’t get the memo about Sam Smith and their chosen pronouns, awkward,” one wrote on Twitter (X).
“Using ‘him’ as many times in one sentence as she could!” another said.
“Not Lorraine misgendering Sam Smith over and over!” a third chimed in with.
“She’s normally pretty good with this stuff.”
“Vogue looked visibly uncomfortable!!! And she seemed to be emphasizing THEY too for Lorraine to pick up on it but it didn’t work!! I’m sure she’ll be upset she got it wrong,” another wrote.
Kelly wrote in a now-deleted tweet: “Fair comment. Not in the least intentional but will take on board – thanks for bringing it to my attention.”