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'They deserve better': Fans fume as reporter repeatedly misgenders Sam Smith on Grammys 2023 red carpet

Sam Smith, who goes by they/them pronouns, was misgendered repeatedly by an AP reporter on the red carpet

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The 2023 Grammys, officially known as the 65th Grammy Awards, is airing live on Sunday, February 5, from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The event recognizes the best recordings, compositions, and artists from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022. The academy has announced several changes this year for different categories and eligibility rules.

Just hours after arriving at the Grammys, British singer Sam Smith, who goes by they/them pronouns, was misgendered repeatedly by a reporter on the red carpet. Smith arrived with co-star Kim Petras and was referred to as ‘he/him’ at least a dozen times by an AP reporter.

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A reporter with the Associated Press said while discussing Smith’s red carpet look, "Sam Smith has had a lot of controversy around his outfits this past year, I love that he’s continuing to push the mould, love that he’s continuing to break out from the Sam Smith that we knew at the ballads. He’s still singing those ballads, but he’s definitely diving fully in, into pop music, and we can see that, not only in his music, but also in his looks as well.”

Sam Smith misgendered in the past

Smith came out as non-binary and genderqueer in 2019. They have been misgendered by several individuals in the past, with the most recent example being 'Good Morning Britain' presenter Richard Madeley referring to the star as 'him'. They were also misgendered by Shawn Mendes in the past, and by the US game show 'Jeopardy'. 

Smith turned heads along with their color-coordinated companions, including his 'Unholy' collaborator Petras, all of who dazzled in red outfits. Smith was recently criticized for his new music video for having hyper-sexualized scenes as critics called it 'controversial' and demanded that it be age-restricted on Youtube.

'It's awful'

Fans are unhappy with the reporter misgendering Smith during the Grammys 2023. "Sam Smith continuously being misgendered makes me so upset like its been YEARS since they came out why are ppl still being ignorant and transphobic its awful," one user wrote on Twitter. "not sam smith being misgendered on the grammy red carpet wtf they deserve better". "yo associated press your presenter just misgendered sam smith about 35 times in the space of 2 minutes," a disappointed user said.

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