Life/Style

Sam Smith drops new song I Am Not Here To Make Friends and his friends are doing all to defend that video

Dristi SharmaJanuary 31, 2023 | 15:42 IST

If you don't love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else?

Sam Smith's new album Gloria's lead song, I Am Not Here To Make Friends, kicks off with a line about self-love, with Sam Smith entering an old castle in a pink gown in a helicopter. Seems pretty Sam Smith, right?

The lyrics of the song were not really extraordinary, and have received mixed reactions from critics, but it was the latter part of the song that sparked controversy.

Why? Sam Smith was seen wearing nipple pasties, a corset, and having liquid blasted in their face, which was not liked by all. In case you didn't know, Sam Smith is an English singer, popularly known for their worldwide blockbuster song Unholy, with Kim Petras; or Dancing With A Stranger.

Photo: Sam Smith in I Am Not Here To Make Friends

What is the controversy? The video has received both praise and criticism.

First off, there are people who are calling the video 'pornographic', 'vulgar' and 'not a piece of art';
while the other side is claiming the hate towards the video stings of 'homophobia' and 'fatophobia'. According to them, they can't see 'a fat person happy and unapologetic'.

Which side you are on? Take a look at the video and decide:

Here are some reactions:

Sam Smith is a perfect example of what degenerate Hollywood culture does to people. It makes celebrities vulgar, hyper-sexualised and obsessed with wearing their sexuality like a costume and shoving it in everyone’s face. And to make matters worse, kids look up to this man!

- Dominique Samuels on Twitter

YouTube does not have any age restrictions on Sam Smith's degrading sexualised new music video. 5-year-olds can search this up and watch it with no content restrictions! Sam Smith, this is not art. This is not trendy. This is not empowering.

- Oli London on Twitter

Sam Smith, ever-desperate for attention, is now trying to be the white Lizzo.

- Ian Haworth on Twitter

But many came to Sam Smith's rescue too:

Sam Smith since 2014: Sam's music and personal style were significantly more conservative when they launched their debut album in May 2014, the same month they officially came out as gay and uses the pronouns they/them.

For instance, early press photos showed Smith dressed like Michael Buble in a typical uniform of dark suits, and their breakout songs were all lovelorn ballads like Lay Me Down and Stay With Me. But now, cut to 2023. Sam's content is much more unapologetic and open.

This change, which Sam wanted, has been the cause of pain for some, as they miss the 'old Sam'.

In recent years, pop culture has evolved a lot, with sexuality and sex as content far more accepted in Hollywood albums, but some experts believe that the treatment of artists for people who are queer and of colour is still different.

For instance, The Independent reports that Lil Nas X, Cardi B, and Megan Thee Stallion for their single WAP have all received similar criticism in recent years for "over-sexualised" music videos. It's no surprise that these vocalists are all LGBTQIA+ artists of colour.

Smith is unremarkable in their willingness to put sex front and centre when compared to many of their pop peers. It's hardly a stretch to think that there's some homophobia in the response, as well as somebody fascism; if Smith were skinny and cisgender, their blatant displays of sexuality might have gone undetected.

- Twitter user

Here's what Sam Smith has to say about the controversy:

By the way, I Am Not Here To Make Friends, by Sam Smith is trending on Spotify right now.

Last updated: January 31, 2023 | 15:42

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