Sam Smith, an openly gay singer and songwriter from England, won an Oscar at the 2016 Academy Awards on Sunday for his song “Writing’s on the Wall” from the film, “Spectre.”
JUST IN: The #Oscar for Best Music (Original Song) goes to "Writing's On the Wall" from Spectre. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/4IjYviD94s
— ABC News (@ABC) February 29, 2016
So hungover. genuinely feels like a dream
— Sam Smith (@samsmith) February 29, 2016
The dream quickly turned into a nightmare, however, after critics blasted Smith for declaring himself the first openly gay Oscar winner during his acceptance speech:
“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. I stand here tonight as a proud gay man and I hope we can all stand together as equals one day”
The problem is, he’s not the first openly gay Oscar winner…
Hey, Sam Smith: Here are 7 openly gay Oscar winners who came before you https://t.co/soLn7bXGTI pic.twitter.com/kjqraOSQ8B
— Splinter (@splinter_news) March 1, 2016
… and Dustin Lance Black, who won in 2009 for best original screenplay, called him out on his error:
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
Smith took to Twitter to defend himself:
Second openly gay man to win an oscar or third or fourth or 100th, It wasn't my point.
— Sam Smith (@samsmith) February 29, 2016
Recommended
My point was to shine some light on the LGBT community who i love so dearly.
— Sam Smith (@samsmith) February 29, 2016
And he apologized to Black:
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 (@samsmith) February 29, 2016
But that wasn’t enough. The outrage mob wanted a scalp:
Sam Smith's Oscar gaffe is what happnens when we don't teach LGBTQ history: https://t.co/kN86EyZqzj pic.twitter.com/eXreGrjk2e
— Slate (@Slate) March 2, 2016
Pioneering Gay Oscar Winner Offers Sam Smith a History Lesson (Guest Column) https://t.co/heNT9ULpGt pic.twitter.com/M8gkd7XbxM
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 3, 2016
.@BrianJMoylan: "Sam Smith’s Oscars speech was a disservice to LGBT youth" https://t.co/XsZIesHNd5
— TIME (@TIME) March 1, 2016
And they got it. Smith posted that he’s “logging off” Twitter “for a while”:
I'm logging off for a while. Some Martinis shaken not stirred are definitely in order.
— Sam Smith (@samsmith) March 1, 2016
Liberals are continuing to eat their own and they don’t even realize the damage they’re doing to themselves.
***
Join the conversation as a VIP Member