Sam Smith has discussed coming out as non-binary, revealing that they weren’t prepared for the amount of ‘ridicule and bullying’ they faced.
The singer, 28, spoke very candidly about the decision and also changing pronouns to they/them last September in an interview with CBS This Morning.
As well as reflecting on the reaction, Sam revealed that gender had been ‘nothing but traumatising and challenging’ in their life.
Candid: Sam Smith has discussed coming out as non-binary, revealing they weren’t prepared for the amount of ‘ridicule and bullying’ they faced (pictured at the MTV EMA’s in November)
Speaking about the decision, Sam said: ‘I honestly, I can’t express to enough people how much courage it’s taken. I wasn’t prepared for the amount of ridicule. And bullying, really, that I’ve experienced.
‘I mean, honestly, the comments and the types of things that I have to answer and walk through every day is very, very intense.’
Sam also discussed how gender had impacted their life and attempted to explain what being non-binary meant when prompted during the interview.
The Too Good At Goodbyes singer explained: ‘Gender, for me, has been nothing but traumatising and challenging throughout my life… I just feel like myself. I don’t feel like a man.’
Opening up: Sam, who announced they were changing their pronouns in September 2019, also revealed gender had been ‘nothing but traumatising’ in their life (pictured in December 2019)
Sam also reflected on how difficult the lead-up to coming out was, saying that the months preceding the announcement really impacted their mental health.
‘2019 for me was a fight with my mental health. For the first time ever I started to get panic attacks and feeling anxiety,’ Sam said.
However now a year on from announcing they were non-binary, Sam said that they feel as if a ‘weight has been lifted’.
The singer first announced that they were coming out as non-binary on Twitter in September last year, saying they would be changing their pronouns to ‘they/them’.
In an honest flurry of tweets, they wrote: ‘Today is a good day so here goes. I’ve decided I am changing my pronouns to THEY/THEM after a lifetime of being at war with my gender I’ve decided to embrace myself for who I am, inside and out…
‘I’m so excited and privileged to be surrounded by people that support me in this decision but I’ve been very nervous about announcing this because I care too much about what people think but f*** it!
‘I understand there will be many mistakes and mis gendering but all I ask is you please please try. I hope you can see me like I see myself now. Thank you.’
Sam released their third studio album Love Goes, which was originally titled To Die For, on October 30 after pushing back its release from May.
The star admitted that when Covid-19 hit hit there was a moment when they ‘didn’t want to release the album’ as it was written before the pandemic, when Sam was ‘having a wonderful time’ in West Hollywood.
Moving forward: Sam said that after coming out, they felt like a ‘weight had been lifted’
They made the decision to go ahead and share the album with their fans during the coronavirus crisis due to the ‘pride’ they felt when listening to it.
But American singer Ariana Grande’s new album Positions beat Sam’s record to the top of the charts on Friday after it sold just over 27,000 records.
Sam stood solidly at number two after selling just over 20,000 copies of their latest album in the first week – but failed to reach the first week’s 97,000 for their 2017 hit, The Thrill Of It All.
Sam has kept busy during lockdown with a hectic schedule promoting their third album, including appearances on Strictly, Graham Norton and The One Show.
Speaking to James, 42, Sam shared what it has been like being stuck indoors amid the Covid crisis, joking that they miss clubbing and ‘sweaty bodies’.
They continued: ‘I miss sweaty bodies James, I really do! I only realised recently that like clubbing for me is like a genuine hobby of mine.
‘It’s how I get my exercise, it’s what I love to do. It’s been good, it’s been nice to have a break but I’m missing to be around people for sure.’
New album: Sam has been extremely busy promoting their third album Love Goes, including appearances on Strictly, Graham Norton and The One Show (pictured in December 2019)