Sam Smith: I will never perform in Russia
Sam Smith has said he will “never” play a gig in Russia – because of the country’s anti-gay laws.
The singer – who came out as gay last year – made the comments to Rolling Stone.
He said: “I don’t hate Russia, but I just will never go to Russia [because] what they do to gay people there is just disgusting and it makes me very angry.
“I’ve even said, no matter how many billions of pounds you could offer me, I just couldn’t, which makes me sad because I have Russian fans. They contact me on Twitter, it makes me sad.”
He also railed against the Catholic church, attacking the “ridiculous” teachings about homosexuality in the school he went to.
He said: “From what I can remember, they believe that you can be homosexual, but you just can’t practice it, which is ridiculous.
“I would just say, ‘I am proof that it’s genetic. It has to be, because it wasn’t a choice.’ And that’s it. That’s my only argument, you know? You love who you love, and I can’t help that I like guys.”
Sam Smith is set to play at the Grammy awards this evening, while he is nominated for six of the awards himself.
The singer said last month: “I preach all the time about being myself and being comfortable with myself, but if I’m honest, I struggle every day.
“I’m still figuring out who I am. I don’t want to pretend I’ve got everything sorted out in my mind, because I really don’t.
“I am not Sam Smith, the gay singer. I am Sam Smith, the singer who happens to be gay.”
