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

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. 

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: 

But many came to Sam Smith's rescue too: 

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

But Sam Smith has made the criminal offence of being a) queer and b) not skinny, and in an increasingly anti-LGBTQ culture, that can’t be tolerated.

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) January 30, 2023

I finally watched the Sam Smith video and was like "that's...it?!"

Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon were in full joyful drag in the I Want To Break Free video almost 40 years ago. In the middle Freddie is writhing with ballet dancers. Ya bunch of prudes.

— Sooz Kempner🐀 (@SoozUK) January 30, 2023

Sam Smith is out there producing the most creative and authentic work of their career. If you're remotely offended by it, you should ask what that says about you, not about them as an artist and person.

— Nick Levine (@mrnicklevine) January 30, 2023

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.

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

Never too much ✨ pic.twitter.com/ANKVPEvoXV

— SAM SMITH (@samsmith) January 29, 2023

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

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