Culture

Sam Smith admits even they make ‘mistakes’ with other people’s pronouns

Sam Smith admits even they make 'mistakes' with other people's pronouns

Sam Smith admits even they make ‘mistakes’ with other people’s pronouns (Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)

Singer Sam Smith has admitted even they make mistakes with other people’s pronouns, but that it is “good for people to see you mess up” and correct yourself respectfully.

Smith, who came out as non-binary in March 2019, discussed pronouns, queer history, culture, and their new single Unholy in a new interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1.

“I just want to create a safe space for everyone. But also, we’re all learning together,” Sam said.

They added that “mistakes happen” when addressing people and using they/them pronouns, but people need to get used to the fact that “language changes” and people should “lean into the uncomfortable feeling of being wrong”.

“The pronoun thing is interesting, because mistakes happen. Even me, I make mistakes quite a lot, and it’s an uncomfortable feeling, making a mistake,” Smith said.

“I think it’s really good for people to see you mess up… and then correct yourself. Because that’s what we’ve got to get used to, because changes in language, they take time to change.

“We need to lean into the uncomfortable feeling of being wrong sometimes, because it’s okay… If I lived a life where I was just getting upset every time someone used the wrong pronoun, I would be very sad, and I’m done with being sad.”

Smith added that it took until the Covid-19 pandemic to build their confidence and “freakiness” to the level it has reached with their new track Unholy, which features the iconic Kim Petras.

“I was holding it back until I knew I had it,” they said.

“With Unholy, I just loved that song so much and I wanted to ease into this record because it’s quite a lot for the brain. It’s time to get freaky.

“I’d never really had any time to stop and think about everything that happened, and really ask myself what type of artist I want to be… It took a few years, it took seven years for me to really build the confidence to get my freakiness out.

“It’s unbelievable that in 2022 it still takes a lot of bravery to express ourselves in this way.”

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Smith has previously spoken out against the trolling and bullying they experienced after coming out publicly as non-binary.

They added in Apple Music‘s interview that education on queer history, and “radical joy” is the way forward for the LGBTQ+ community.

“We live in a world where it is hard to be ourselves, and illegal in many, many places still,” they said.

“There’s so much to learn, there’s so much to be educated about queer history and queer life, and it’s such a beautiful, beautiful history and such a beautiful life.

“It’s just time for us all to share it with each other, which is lovely.

“Joy is radical now to me… There’s always time to be sad. I tried to be happy so many times, but it wasn’t authentic. It had to happen naturally.”

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