Sam Smith’s new video is way too queer and horny for people offended by queer, horny things

Sam Smith in their ‘I’m Not Here To Make Friends’ video (YouTube)

Sam Smith released their new album, Gloria, on Friday and released a new music video. This is for the song “I’m not here to make friends.”

Perhaps buoyed by the massive success of their number one hit “Unholy” with Kim Petras, Smith’s latest video is a joyous celebration of quirkiness and feeling comfortable in one’s own skin.

Check it out below.

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Given that the song (a disco-tinged dance number made in collaboration with Calvin Harris) is called “I’m Not Here To Make Friends”, it’s clear that Smith is no longer willing to be anything other than their true selves , no matter which other. people might think.

And it seems the video certainly caused some.

One British broadcaster, Dominique Samuels, led the chorus of disapproval. She accused Smith of “wearing their sexuality like a costume and shoving it in everyone’s face.” She was particularly horrified that children could be influenced by Smith.

Sam Smith is a perfect example of what degenerate Hollywood culture does to people.

It makes celebrities vulgar, hypersexualized and obsessed with wearing their sexuality like a costume and shoving it in everyone’s face.

And to make matters worse, children look up to this man! pic.twitter.com/0xpUryCl3a

— Dominique Samuels (@Dominiquetaegon) January 28, 2023

Samuels was not alone in her criticism.

YouTube has no age restrictions on Sam Smith’s humiliatingly sexualized new music video.

5 year olds can look it up and watch it with no content restrictions!

Sam Smith, this is not art. It’s not trendy. It is not empowering. It’s monstrous! #SamSmith pic.twitter.com/NoDec6rtEE

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) January 28, 2023

This was followed this morning by a live debate on breakfast TV show Good Morning Britain about Smith’s new promotion. One commentator said it represented a shift that was “not good for society”.

Sam Smith’s latest music video has sparked controversy online, with social media calling it ‘vulgar and hypersexualised’. However, others called the video empowering as a non-binary person celebrates their body.

Is the video empowering or offensive? pic.twitter.com/z2IZgr2dvP

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) January 30, 2023

However, another commenter praised Smith, saying they receive criticism mainly for being non-binary. Many other artists, such as Madonna and Miley Cyrus, have made sexually suggestive videos without inciting breakfast TV debates.

“Madonna did it and it wasn’t on TV in the morning, people weren’t debating it in the same way.”

Shivani Dave says other music artists have released similar content before and Sam Smith is not the first. pic.twitter.com/LX9sWobwmr

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) January 30, 2023

Fatphobia and transphobia

Online, it seems that many people agree with the latter point…

I wanted to ask “what did Sam Smith do to deserve this amount of hate directed at them”, but it’s literally that they’re weird and fat, isn’t it. that’s what it comes down to

— das 🌿 (@das_penman) January 29, 2023

My mom showed me Aliens when I was 7, I don’t think a Sam Smith video is going to destroy kids lives.

— Sooz Kempner🐀 (@SoozUK) January 29, 2023

So female artists can make explicit music videos just like straight men, for decades there could be basically mild pornography in mainstream music and it’s all harmless good fun, but now Sam Smith is doing it and suddenly it’s twisted grooming filth. HELLO HOMOPHOBIA & TRANSPHOBIA!

— Dr Finn Mackay Adult Human Queermale (@Finn_Mackay) January 29, 2023

Sex has always been a recurring theme in modern pop music, and music videos often flaunt it.

But Sam Smith has made it a criminal offense to be a) queer and b) not thin, and in an increasingly anti-LGBTQ culture, that cannot be tolerated.

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) January 30, 2023

Others pointed out that controversial pop acts are nothing new…

All this Pearl griping about Sam Smith’s latest video reminds me of when Divine appeared on TOTP in 1984, and The Bigots & UK Media lost their fucking minds. pic.twitter.com/wgVFaZNzAs

— Mikey Walsh (@thatbloodyMikey) January 28, 2023

If Sam Smith video upsets you, why are you talking about 15 years of the Pussycat Dolls pic.twitter.com/uAQ8hjkjsd

— Janey Godley (@JaneyGodley) January 29, 2023

Saw the Sam Smith video. As a SWM in my mid-thirties, I thought it was great. Just ‘Relax’ for the TikTok generation. Also, don’t think your kids are fat. They know, they are not arsed.

The fact that it upset a million Helen Lovejoys is great. pic.twitter.com/rZiLKD5l7o

— Ash Preston (@TheAshPreston) January 30, 2023

Related: Sam Smith’s latest look brings out the trolls as “Unholy” continues to dominate the charts

And others just praised Smith’s embrace of their identity and the transformative journey they’ve been on since their start in the music industry…

Sam Smith Sam Smith
2014-2018 2019-2023 pic.twitter.com/xawJc0EXep

— gil (@groupiexcx) January 27, 2023

Stream Gloria now on all streaming platforms.