Louis Smith, the handsome British gymnast who would “go gay” for Will Smith, is going gay for Attitude magazine’s June issue. The hunky 25-year-old Olympic medalist stripped down to his briefs for the cover and in an exclusive interview inside, talks being single (he’s “looking for a long-term girlfriend”), LGBT athletes, and what he thinks of 99 percent of his gay fans.
The last time we saw Smith he was in much less clothing, posing in a thong for a risqué flex fest on Instagram. The square-cut trunks he’s sporting here are honestly quite tame for him.
On giving advice to closeted sportsmen:
I think what Tom Daley did was very brave, but he definitely made the right choice because when you’re in the public eye someone says something and it gets twisted and before you know it there’s a news article out there before you’ve even had a chance to say anything.
Whereas what he did, he was able to put the first statement out on his own and tell people how it is; I remember Tom saying that even after he told his best friend he felt so much better, like he had so much weight lifted off him. Imagine that as an athlete, imagine having to think about that every day in training, every time you compete. It’s a worry you don’t need.
On getting attention from gay fans:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
You know what, 99 percent of the time they’re fine. But now and again you do get the odd tweet — whether it’s from a girl or a gay person – that does kind of cross the line! [laughs] But you have to have a laugh and have a giggle. I mean I like a dirty joke as much as the next person so I do laugh about it.
On competing in the selfie Olympics:
Well you know, I’ve taken the odd selfie and I like to provide entertainment to the people that follow me! I don’t want to be some boring guy that takes pictures of food the whole time. I mean I’m only 25, I want to keep a bit of sex appeal!
There were some pictures snapped of me last summer that weren’t that appealing so I just want to share my training and my hard work. I like to keep people up to date with what’s going on! I was shooting my 2015 calendar the next day, and my agent said to me “Louis, go and get a spray tan, you’ll get a nice little glow for the shoot.” I was like, “I’m mixed race! I’ve already got a bit of a tan you know!” So I got a spray tan and instantly I was seeing lines in places they’d never been before, so I decided to do a video in my little paper thong!
It felt like I had nothing on to be honest. With my ADHD I tend not to think really, I just kind of go along with shit and then it was up there!
Check out the rest of Attitude‘s interview with Louis Smith in the upcoming June 2014 issue, which also includes an interview with Eurovision 2014 winner Conchita Wurst, available for download on Wednesday, May 28. Visit Attitude.co.uk for more info.
Below, the infamous ‘flexing in a thong’ video, and Louis Smith’s amazing nipples.
hotboyvb81
brave….I’m kinda tired of hearing how brave it is- it’s 2014…if you live in a Western Culture- Europe/N America- you get near total acceptance these days…if you come out in Saudi Arabia, Russia or at 16 in Mississippi- yes, you;re brave.
masc4masc
nice rack.
sportyguy1983
nice build but not an attractive guy at all
Tookietookie123
@hotboyvb81: Even if you live in the most accepting of communities, not all parents are going to be okay with having a child who’s gay. To them, it’s one thing to have a gay friend, but to have a gay child is another(that’s exactly what happened to me and I’m from California).
Mezaien
WOW man sit on my face.
hotboyvb81
@Tookietookie123: yes- but the numbers drop significantly every year- but a millionaire who EVERYONE and their dog thought was gay- come on….hardly earth shaking- if his mum didn’t know, she’s an idiot!
Zodinsbrother
@hotboyvb81: bollocks
coming out is hard for everyone and we should respect everyone who does it. Especially someone who would have been warned about how much money he would lose from his tween fans.
hotboyvb81
yawn- hard, yes- brave…in this day and age, not so much- especially when everyone knew!
Zodinsbrother
1. If it’s so lacking in bravery, then how come there are still so few of his generation in all fields of endeavour that are out. I look forward to seeing your long list of teenage to 20 year old out athletes, actors, musicians and so on who are at the same level of international success. Because there must be dozens and dozens of them if you are right.
2. Part of the reason he is credited is that he did it anyway, despite some members of his family being unhappy, and because of the way he took control of the message himself rather than through some paid magazine or TV interview.
3. The fact that he’s done all this and continued his training despite the loss of his father is another signal this this is a creditable young man.
CWfan
Of course, “brave” is a relative term, but I don’t think anyone is suggesting that Tom’s level of bravery matches that of, for example, someone from a country that faces the death penalty if they come out.
However, that does not mean that what Tom did lacked courage. Western Culture is still not the Utopia hotboyvb81 seems to think it is; things might have progressed (hugely) in recent years, but there are still many bigoted people in our societies – people still get attacked in the UK, beaten up by homophobes because of their sexuality. Indeed, Tom faced homophobic abuse on Twitter after he came out.
And, I would suggest that it was incredibly brave of Tom, considering the subsequent flack he received (from some more than others, particularly Twitter Trolls) when his relationship with DLB became known.
It might be hotboyvb81’s opinion that Tom was not brave, but I think his belittling of Tom and his mother speaks more about him and his character, than it does about (his perception of) Tom’s bravery.
hotboyvb81
What took you so long- I was beginning to worry. I guess you saw my facebook alert that I posted here about Tom. What kind of stalker are you, making me wait 11 whole hours!! You’re slipping! I don’t hate DLB half as much as you apparently hate me! See you soon, buddy!
hotboyvb81
and this isn’t just about Tom for me, it’s all the celeb coming out the last 2 or 3 years. People accept it today- it’s not all that brave. Michael Sam’s probably the only one I’d consider brave- he did it before being drafted/put his whole career on the line. There are about 5 out divers- most before Tom- Mitcham/Louganis- both with more impressive resumes, both doing fine
capsule
@hotboyvb81:
You must realize that Louis Smith is a British athlete and his opinion is based on the fact that there are really not that many out athletes in his country. Tom Daley is probably the most high-profile active athlete in the Uk who is openly gay.?MitchamLouganis
capsule
Louganis did not come out publicly as gay until after retiring. Mitcham was brave but he did say that being openly gay affected attracting big-name sponsorship.
Being openly gay is still a career disadvantage, that’s why most gay athletes don’t even come out. It would be great if we lived in a world where sexuality is not an issue, but we don’t. Things are better for gays than, say, the 80s, but to join hands and sing a pretty song about how being openly gay in the sports industry doesn’t affect their careers in the least is putting one’s head in the sand.
hotboyvb81
by mentioning Louganis- I meant, it’s not Earth shattering for people to accept a gay diver- seeing as how the gretest of all time is gay- coming out back in the 90s was brave- the backlash was still huge then- there just isn’t any significant backlash today- just from the small minority of right wing dinosaurs who die out every year.
hotboyvb81
Martina Navratilova, Ian McKellan, Boy George were brave…Tom Daley, Ellen Page, Adam Lambert…not so much- ,thanks to the work and sacrifice of the ones 30 years ago.
capsule
@hotboyvb81:
“Martina Navratilova, Ian McKellan, Boy George were brave”
But they spent many, many years in the closet. None of them were teenagers when they came out. If coming out is so easy now, then can you explain why Tom Daley is literally the only young high-profile active athlete in the Uk who is openly gay?
hotboyvb81
Martina and George were young- George was about 21 and Martina was 24- she couldn’t come out before 1981/at 24 because she was stateless after defecting- the US State Dept would have denied her citizenship if it was known she was gay- it disqualified you back then- a month after she got it, she came out and lost millions… Tom being the only one- well, how many pro or world class atletes are there under 20? Take that small percent and multiple by the small percent that might be gay- and there’s your answer. He deserves support/encouragement/ and congrats…it’s just not all that brave anymore- especially for someone everyone thought was gay all along.
hotboyvb81
Hey- I’m sorry, I forgot- Tom acquirred gay sainthood as St. Thomas of a Divingboard last Decemeber and we’re all supposed to bow down and worship him, MY BAD!!!
capsule
Boy George did NOT come out publicly as gay when he was 21. He kept giving vague answers about his sexuality when Culture Club was popular. He came out as gay in his autobiography, Take it Like a Man when he was 34. As for Tom, his fanbase is made up of mostly young girls. His fangirls certainly didn’t know that they were lusing after a gay guy and buying stuff with the words “The Future Mrs Tom Daley”.
Zodinsbrother
@hotboyvb81: You do realise you are responsible for 50% of the posts on this article. An article about Louis Smith and you are going on about Tom Daley.
Who is obsessed?
hotboyvb81
well- stop responding to my posts – 9 of 21 isn’t 50%…now 10 of 22….I’m only ‘obsessed’ with having the right to an opinion, which certain members have tried to take from me- following me from site to site, bullying/stalking, etc- well, fuck that shit- I’m posting!!!!
litper
Louis is just a nasty closeted queen who envies Tom who can be out and proud!
hotboyvb81
^^^^ now THAT comment deserves the responses from you guys. Louis has never dinged my gaydar.
Blackceo
How in the hell did a post about the hot Brit gymnast Louis Smith with just a slight mention of Tom Daley, get turned into predominantly Tom Daley? WTF?!!!
litper
@hotboyvb81: you’re defending him like some ugly queens kept defending Tom when it was obvious that he’s gay.
litper
@hotboyvb81: just like you they have a “straight” fetish and can’t accept an openly gay guy.
Zodinsbrother
@Blackceo: Bad old fashioned irrational hatred.
CWfan
Wow, I’m speechless! I didn’t think someone with such levels of intelligence, wit and insight as litper actually existed – truly astonishing!
litper
@CWfan: says a straight-worshipper?
Kangol
He’s really beautiful. I’m glad to hear he’s gay-friendly.
CWfan
@litper: Sorry, I just spat out my coffee laughing so much after reading your comment…I didn’t realise it was possible, but I think your powers of deduction and psychoanalysis actually surpass my previous estimates of your abilities.
Thank you for bringing a smile to my face! 🙂
mz.sam
Louis Smith is one of dozens non-medaling Olympians who understand their shelf-life after competition who is able to extend their 15 minutes of non-Wheaties fame with sexy underwear pics and nude selfies. Smart guy.
Sebizzar
@hotboyvb81: Seriously? It may be common these days, but it is definitely still a brave thing to do. You must not have had to face the reactions of family first and foremost. But to come out to the world when the majority of it is still homophobic (and violent), you can bet that is brave.
@sportyguy1983: I wonder what you would consider attractive then O_o He’s definitely a 10!
Derek Williams
Complete and utter eye candy. Stunning man.