Sam Smith Hits Back at Haters Who Think Their New Video Is Too Sexual

Sam Smith is dealing with backlash against their latest music video.

Last Friday, the nonbinary “Unholy” hitmaker released their fourth studio album, “Gloria.” That same day, Smith also treated fans to a new music video for their single “I’m Not Here To Make Friends.”

Directed by Tanu Muino, the burlesque-inspired “I’m Not Here To Make Friends” video was filmed within King Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace castle. Decked out in a fabulous custom wardrobe by designer Christian Cowan, Smith swings on chandeliers and dances on top of pianos alongside an array of dancers scantily clad in corsets and suspenders. At one point, the singer is sensually hosed down by several jets of water. It’s called being the belle of the ball, look it up!

During a recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Smith said that the song was inspired by their frustration at being friend-zoned after dates.

“I went into the studio the next day, and I was like, ‘I’m sick of [this]. Like, I’ve got enough friends,” they explained.

Although Smith’s latest music video was shot in the former home of a guy who beheaded multiple ex-wives and launched an entire English Reformation just because he was horny, modern internet users were more scandalized by a highly successful queer, fat, nonbinary performer throwing a sexy party in a music video.

Soon after the “I’m Not Here To Make Friends” video dropped, detractors argued that it should warrant age restrictions on YouTube videos. Images from the video were even seized by conservative pundits, who accused Smith of “wearing their sexuality like a costume and shoving it in everyone’s face.”

However, plenty of fans and fellow LGBTQ+ community members were just as ready to call the bigotry embedded in these comments out.

“Sex has always been a running theme in modern pop music, and music videos often flaunt it,” journalist Owen Jones pointed out. “But Sam Smith has made the criminal offence of being a) queer and b) not skinny, and in an increasingly LGBTQ culture, that can’t be tolerated.”

Another Twitter user added: “The Sam Smith hate is so gross. Misgendering them, talking about their body. Y’all grow tf up. Don’t be petty because… your self confidence is nil and you can’t stand to see a fat fem person shine. Love to see them thrive and the rest of y’all can CHOKE.”

Luckily, Smith seems to be taking the controversy in stride. On The Graham Norton Show, the musician joked that the video led to their favorite headline they’ve ever read: “Sam Smith Horrifies OAPs [British slang for ‘old age pensioner’].”

“Nothing seedy went on, guys. It wasn’t weird,” Smith laughed. “Weirder things have happened in that castle. Let’s be honest.”

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