While we can appreciate Sam Smith’s desire to shed light on the LGBTQI community in both Hollywood and the music industry, he should have checked his sources before making the claim that he was the first openly gay man to win the award.
Smith blames his snafu on a misquote. Apparently, he read an interview by Sir Ian McKellen in The Guardian this past January, wherein McKellen questioned why no openly gay man had won Best Actor.
“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, and 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.”
Though noble, perhaps he should have reread the article the night before.
Smith accepted his own Oscar for Best Original Song with “Writing’s on the Wall.” The song promotes the rights of the LGBTQI community, to embrace love wherever you find it, and to never be afraid of who you are.
We could have overlooked his blunder, which he is obviously sorry for, if not for his next attempt to smooth over it. In a follow up interview on Good Morning Britain, Smith tried to save face with the claim that he was the second openly gay man to win an Oscar.
Except several out and proud men have already beat him to the punch.
Dustin Lance Black, an openly gay Oscar-winning screenwriter, reminded Smith that he had won an Oscar several years before for his work on Milk. Black also suggested that Smith stop texting his fiancé, Olympian Tom Daley.
Smith apologised to Black, though sources say he was a bit hungover.
Hey @SamSmithWorld, if you have no idea who I am, it may be time to stop texting my fiancé. Here’s a start: https://t.co/8hGTRtIaMK
— Dustin Lance Black (@DLanceBlack) February 29, 2016
Second openly gay man to win an oscar or third or fourth or 100th, It wasn’t my point.
— Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) February 29, 2016
THE POINT: knowing our LGBTQ history is important. We stand on the shoulders of countless brave men and women who paved the way for us.
— Dustin Lance Black (@DLanceBlack) February 29, 2016
My point was to shine some light on the LGBT community who i love so dearly.
— Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) February 29, 2016
Apologies for the mix up @DLanceBlack I’ll be sure to check out your films now x Belated Congrats on the Oscar x
— Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) February 29, 2016
Although Black later tried to laugh the whole thing off in defense of LGBTQI history, it’s hard to say where the anger stopped and the humor began. In any kind of text communication, meaning can get muddled and feelings can get heated.
Congrats to everyone who walked away with an Oscar this year!
Author
