Sam Smith Says He Was A Victim Of Homophobic Bullying
It’s obvious to anyone with ears that Sam Smith has experienced his share of romantic turmoil, but the out British singer recently revealed that he was also the victim of a more troubling form of emotional trauma — antigay bullying.
In an interview with The Sun, Smith spoke candidly about coming out at age 11, his run-ins with homophobic classmates and his conscious decision to become more of a LGBT advocate.
He told The Sun:
“The toughest time for me was my first year in secondary school when I hadn’t come out as gay. It was actually the denying of being gay that was getting me bullied.
“Guys were asking me all the time, ‘Are you gay?’ I would say no and that would rile them up even more. I came out at the end of year seven when I was 11. That shut a lot of the bullies up.
“A bunch of boys from a rival school would shout insults at me as I walked from my home to the train station. I remember walking to the station and getting ‘faggot’ shouted at me all the time.
“It was the most mortifying thing. Not so much for me. I knew these people were stupid, uneducated twats. But I was upset as I was with my friends and I wondered if they were embarrassed to be walking with me because people are hurling abuse. I hated the fact my friends had to listen to that.”
Smith later revealed that once he was physically assaulted on the streets of London in what he is certain was because of his sexuality:
“When I moved to London, I got punched in the neck walking back from work. It was definitely homophobic. I was on the phone speaking quite loudly and had pink earphones on, so it was pretty clear I was gay.”
He also spoke about his shift towards LGBT advocacy, a change that he didn’t think would happen when he first came out publicly:
“I can speak about this from a position of power, compared to two years ago where it would have been pissing in the wind. It wouldn’t have gone anywhere. At the beginning of last year I wasn’t talking about my sexuality as much. But I’ve sold loads of records now and I have a voice.”
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56 Comments
Pete
March 11, 05:12Inukwa! Even in London
TheP
March 11, 05:54Na wah o. Homophobia…
Dennis Macauley
March 11, 06:13This is why visibility is important; the more influential people come out the more people will see it as no biggie!
The best response to homophobes is to become successful!
Gad
March 11, 06:32An 11 years old to my mind can’t be said to be that active sexually. How then did the homophobics know him as gay years before he came out @ 11. Granted that he might be effeminate but does that guarantee that he is gay? Well, if this can happen to an infant on British soil, it made me more proud of Nigeria because we don’t bully effeminate kids beyond the jokes about how his girlish looks.
pinkpanthertb
March 11, 06:42You think effeminate 11 year old boys were not bullied? You comforting yourself with the notion that Nigeria is better by saying all that effeminate boys had to deal with are jokes? Hmm. Wow.
Mercury
March 11, 06:42KMT, SMH, RMFE
Chizzie
March 11, 06:47ure so oblivious and ignorant, esp for your age.
Gad
March 11, 09:45What informed people do is enlighten the “ignorants”. Anything short of that is a mental disorder.
Max
March 11, 06:53Gad, you’re so so so so so so so wrong!!!
You might have been schooled(or not) in the 50’s, but what Sam just explained is 101% true… I witnessed it. You can actually know someone is gay from an early age.. And also sexuality has nothing to do with being sexualy active @ age 11. You’re who you are whether you’re having sex or not.
Gad
March 11, 10:22I’m aware of the fact that one can know his sexuality as an infant. What I’m confused about is why people attacked him even before he becomes sexually active. Maybe like their victim, they also had a way of knowing his sexuality aside the look of effeminacy. Please note that I only asked questions. I never said the story was a lie. I noticed your tolerance. #dancing egwu ekpili#
Max
March 11, 10:37Lmao @egwi ekpili..
Pete
March 11, 07:02Gad, effeminate guys don’t get bullied in Nigeria? Are you for real?
Gad
March 11, 10:37I’m talking from my experience. Yours might be different from mine. The two effeminate guys I knew during my childhood where the bullies themselves. They bully the bullies.
trystham
March 11, 08:23He was different. Thats enough reason to bully someone. I’m sure bullying in ur dictionary prolly means cornering, beating up and collecting lunch money. WRONG!!! The horrible teasings & harrassment from those RM1 boys (even the ones u call friends) almost everyday of ur life -THAT was nasty bullying. Speak for urself
Gad
March 11, 11:19Mr admonishment, we are talking about bullying owing to sexual orientation. In other words homophobic induced bullying.
trystham
March 11, 14:44ARRRRRRGHHHHH!!!! *facepalm* GOD!!! *tear*
JustJames
March 11, 08:28Gad Gad Gad. *shakes head very slowly and goes back to testing blood*
Khaleesi
March 11, 09:30@Gad, I was raised to respect everyone especially older people but very often, your comments make me realise that this respect should never be dispensed generously …wth!*(!! If you had a few functional brain cells that haven’t been devoured by severe mental conditioning aided with generous amounts of opium, you would know that homophobes exist in most corners of the world but a major and significant different is that in right thinking and enlightened parts of the globe, homophobia is shunned my the majority as well as the governments (hence the protection of gay rights) while in this part of the world
, the reverse is the case hint: anti-gay laws,police victimisation of gays, widedpread/mass homophobia adopted as official government policy … ***knock knock*** hope my short treatise can penetrate the layers of DAFT which seems to be present in alarmingly high levels within you … ***hugs***
Fyi: long before age 11, i was already well aware that i was attracted to boys&men in a different way, i had also had some semi-sexual encounters, so its very possible for an 11yr old to be sexually active to some extent as well as show phsyical traits that might identify him as gay …. gosh!!!! ***rolls eyes and storms off in a swirl of skirts***
Gad
March 11, 11:47The proper up bringing you claimed to have is so glaring. If what you just exhibited was evidence of good up bringing, parents including me,shouldnt replicate that in their kids or else we will have a generation of charlatans.That you were sexually active at 8 doesn’t make the norm an abrasion. If one wants to toe your line you could be called abnormal since you are different from boys your age.
keredim69
March 11, 13:04…..”Nigeria because we don’t bully effeminate kids beyond the jokes about how his girlish looks….”
Newsflash Gad, that is bullying. These days it doesn’t have to be physical… Haba you should know this
Gad
March 11, 16:05Keredim,the post was not talking of these days. In those days verbal assaults were not taken as serious as it is now. It was common in those days for authorities to ask a complainant ; “did he touch you”? .if the answer goes thus ; “no. He was using abusive words on me “. Then you here things like ” look at this idiot! You think we don’t have important things to do here? Person talk to you,you no fit talk back and you come to disturb us.abeg carry your yeye comot here before I slap you”. Over the years however, people are becoming more enlightened and aware of certain rights. Conventions have also changed to accommodate non-physical aspects of violence/bully.
Chizzie
March 11, 06:44Eyah this in ways happened to me growing up, but I developed thick skin ( something some folks clearly lack) and such a sharp retort that I become notorious and popular for it. I became popular in both secondary schools I attended. it was defence mechanism, but one that paid off. Bullying is a part of life…so instead of running along to someone and reporting. How abt u be a man abt it and develop formidable thick skin, grow some balls and not cower to the said bully’s demands. Hopefully some frail looking negro gets the hint…and becomes more of a man ( or woman) that can handle opinion regardless of how caustic it may seem
pinkpanthertb
March 11, 06:46Grow up, chizzie. Grow up and stop being petty. Its an ugly look.
Chizzie
March 11, 06:50see, interpretation of this comment is relative, you are the one being petty by choosing to interpret it the way you did. ..so take ur own advice.
pinkpanthertb
March 11, 06:53Or I know the interpretation you meant it to be, asshole. And I’ve about had it with you trolling about your bitch mode. Since apparently diplomacy doesn’t work with you, I think I’ll return to the heavy hand I used to use on you.
Chizzie
March 11, 07:17look im not going to do this with u again, cus not only is it lame but some things and people arent worth it, you’re obviously on par w ur shoe box of a friend, so I’m not surprised at such behavior u are displaying, birds of the same feather as they say. so wtever.
pinkpanthertb
March 11, 07:28Yes becos you’re such a behemoth of maturity. Abeg go and find something and suck on. Clearly your mouth is having an offday
Mitch
March 11, 07:17Seriously, Chizzie what is wrong with you? Why are you so desperate to be perceived as the bitch troll of KD? Seriously, you need to stop this. There are times and situations that call for stuff like this. Doing it everyday just wearies us all and makes you sound like a cracked record stuck on replay. Please, stop it.
wondabuoy
March 11, 08:47Ever wondered why they say “silence is golden”? No, we haven’t given it much thought.
When a narcist keeps uploading selfies to Facebook and after like 50 uploads, there was no comment and no Like; how do you think the poster would feel?
Real bad, of course.
So I think here that some persons are “extreme narcists”. Just ignore them and they will find something better to do with their time. We don’t have to be replying every “sharp-mouthed” comment.
That’s the beginning of the “taming” process.
I think this would be my first official comment here.
Mitch
March 11, 09:39Nice one wondabuoy! Trust me, I tried to ignore Chizzie but you know how patience can be run thin by an irritating pesky fly that insists on perching on your food all the time.
Gad
March 11, 10:54Are you not just the same? Or you are afraid of him out doing you in your glaring effort to come off as one who can throw any type of insult at others?
pinkpanthertb
March 11, 11:18Lol. Gad sef. 🙂
Mitch
March 11, 12:09Seriously, Gad? And I thought you were a mature individual! So you can’t differentiate between ‘constructive criticism’ and ‘vitriol spilling’, huh? Seriously, I’ve got exams today and as such, can’t waste my time trying to point out the difference to you. Jeez!
Mitch
March 11, 07:12Gad! Did you purposely make that remark just to get a traffic of comments or is that what you really think is the truth? If it is case one, I pity you as I find you a lot too old to engage in such idiocy. If it is case two, then you’d better crawl out from that rock you’ve been living under. Nigeria should be the queen of homophobic nations in the world. Even children less than 10 are actively homophobic in Nigeria. So don’t go there.
Gad
March 11, 10:50A very simple advice. Make sure you understand a comment before you jump into it seeing that it’s better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and clear all doubts.
Mitch
March 11, 13:17Okay! Officially, I have to say this! Gad, I’m sorry about my attitude towards you on this blog. I have been much too harsh with you and way outta line with my words. For this, I apologize unreservedly. You’re a smart man Gad, and as such it kinda seems off when you say things that you shouldn’t. Then again, here I am trying to make excuses for myself. I’m very sorry Gad.
Please accept my apology!
trystham
March 11, 14:48Sarcastic much?
pinkpanthertb
March 11, 14:53He actually meant it, trystham.
Vhar.
March 11, 08:12I think when someone posts a comment here no matter how immature, misguided or irrelevant it appears, it shouldn’t call for this barbs.
Common guys, we are all grown ups na.
Everybody was brought up differently and we see things differently. Jamie said this on Sunday.
If we can’t tolerate each others comment, kindly stew silently and refrain from yabbing each other na.
Its scary.
Everybody has an inner bitch and an inner “Mumu” personality.
To a reasonable extent I think Chizzie is right.
I used words as defence mechanism to stop all things verbal thrown my way by peers.
And like Gad said, it never escalated to beatings and shovings.
Not every gay was beaten up for been effeminate..
Gad, I was somewhat sexually active when I was 11 years old.
Pete
March 11, 08:32Vhar, 11 years!
Vhar.
March 11, 09:01Don’t be shocked na.
Max
March 11, 09:29Did your D stand @ that age??
#AskingForClarity..
Khaleesi
March 11, 09:33@Max, my D stood erect well before age 8, i didn’t know what was going on, i was confused as hell, but yes, it DID stand!!
Gad
March 11, 11:49Can the all-knowing be confused? #faints#
Vhar.
March 11, 10:16Max, it did.
You did too.
You probably don’t remember.
Most children even toddlers have erections when they are asleep. I saw this first hand with my cousin’s son and no, I wasn’t/didnt touch.
Max
March 11, 10:40I never said you touched @Vhar. I know D’s stand @ an early age, but no t because of attraction.. I’m curious to know if you had attraction at that age.
Vhar.
March 11, 11:42Max, due to whatever “circumstances” that was beyond my control and the innate nature of homosexuality, I’d say I was attracted to guys at that age.
Gad
March 11, 11:10Vhar, thanks for this honest intervention. I know that people could be sexually active @ different times. Some earlier and others much later in life.
Silvery Cat
March 11, 09:43At 11 I was in JSS1…or 2. I can’t quite recall but then, I had endured a lot of homophobic comments, slurs, borne the brunt of many jokes. Not to brag, but I was always topping the class so I think my mentation kept the hassles from being physical but the name-calling hurt just as much as a suckerpunch.
I knew I was gay as far back as Pri 4. I didn’t know the word gay then and I never thought myself homosexual because I wasn’t having sex with anyone back then. But I had kissed and touched other guys then and did I love it? I tried fingering a girl in Pri 5, it wasn’t as fun…sorry, I found it traumatic. I guess that episode with the girl told me all I needed to know and I was barely 10.
Being gay and being sexually active are 2 different things. And U don’t need to be sexually active to know who U wanna do it with. In my Pri 4, *paraphrasing in Katy Perry’s voice* I kissed a boy and I liked it…
Max
March 11, 10:42“Fingering a girl in primary 5”??,**Faints on the road**
A girl? Your class girl? Or adult?
Was she still a virgin afterwards?
#AskingForMySanity
Silvery Cat
March 11, 11:58OK , fingering might not quite be the word but there was definitely immodest touching of body parts which she started by placing my hands on her…oh it’s too traumatic to recall details at this age.
yeah she was my classmate and yes, her “virtue” was not compromised… by me at least.
obatala
March 11, 10:01All this plenty curse, is it because of gads comment or did he steal someone’s man? abeg the insults are too much o. if he is wrong correct him gently na. na wa o.
Max
March 12, 05:18I’m tempted to say “the bitch”… But I’ll just call him man.
The man, the grown ass man doesn’t take corrections. He’s clearly on a high level of opium mixed with ” blonde conditioning “. His case is one that can’t be helped. You just gotta let the sh*t run its course.
Apparently he thinks he’s an emotionally strong, faithful(shrugs/smh/rolls eyes from Lagos to Ugwu hausa) husband/father.
Well, you know even mad people think they’re sane. When you stop replying his comments, he’ll get the message.
The Generation Me
March 11, 12:35Reblogged this on TGM Millennials.
Gad
March 12, 07:05@ Max,Its down right silly for one to think that Gad will be bothered when there are no responses to his comments.For your info,I prefer to comment and people read and pass since their responses prompts me into making more comments.I got to understand yesterday that you and your sisters are in a conscious competition for the most bitchy guy on kd.if you had checked the list of contestants before now ,you will see that Gad,s name is not there.now that you know,please concentrate on the competition because the consolation prizes includes car ac compressors and free emotional breakdown treatment kit.i know you need it.
Max
March 12, 07:11I was right… *smirk…