There have been outbursts of anti-Sam Smith sentiment brewing on social networks for some time, specifically from the queer community. Some say that Sam has co-opted fashion ideas from the community’s history without giving proper credit. But when angry people chimed in that “So-and-so wore this outfit first,” it turned out that someone had done it even before them. Maybe Sam is just carrying on a tradition of acquisitional homaging that spans groundbreakers like David Bowie, Grace Jones, Lady Gaga, and beyond.
I also ran across a Facebook post reading Sam for alleging using Kim Petras as a duetting partner to gain points, but I just don’t see that either. Duetting with a trans singer has never been the road to instant chart success and a Grammy, and even with today’s increased visibility, it was far from a guaranteed slam dunk. I didn’t see the duet as anyone “using” anyone; it was mutually beneficial. While I don’t always worship Sam’s music, I feel we should try to avoid petty arguments designed to bring them down a notch.
Most notably, a drag performer/activist posted on Facebook: “Dear Sam Smith: You can’t ask for support from your community if you are not going to support your community. Coming to local bars and being standoffish. Not tipping the drag performers or the bartenders! I have witnessed this in 3 different bars.”
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Many commenters agreed that that’s what they’d experienced or heard about the “Unholy” singer. However, one promoter chimed in that his nightlife experience with Sam was great; Sam was cutting up, having fun, and tipping. I must admit I’m a little wary of the standoffish accusation because a big star like Sam might have reasons for behaving that way rather than “Dancing With a Stranger.” And if they were doing a conga line through the club while screaming “Hi, all!”, they would then get read for being desperate. I personally know from all the judging: I was once dancing wildly at a party in a D.C. gay club, but someone had spotted me idly standing around right before that and fed the sighting to a writer, who reported that I was acting standoffish and snooty all night!
But the fact is that not tipping is a gigantic no-no, a cause for instant loss of respect, and there is no way around that. Anyway, I sent messages to several of Sam’s people, hoping to let them clear up any possible misunderstandings, but I received no response from anyone. How standoffish! I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, please tip me — I mean, please send me any tips.
Diving into drag bars
At Hardware — one of the plethora of gay boites in Hell’s Kitchen — I ran into Oscar-winning writer Dustin Lance Black (Milk) and his Olympic diver hubby, Tom Daley, the night of a show by drag performers Jacklynn Hyde and Holly Box-Springs. Dustin told me they are moving from London back to the States and said Tom wants to spend more time in L.A. “because British people are Vitamin D deficient and love sunshine,” though he (Dustin) prefers NYC.
“Tell Tom how great New York is!” he urged me, and I actually tried to get to him to do so, but the drag show had started, and he was sitting there, rapt. The guys have a five-year-old son who was staying with Tom’s mother at the moment. Dustin said he took the kid to a drag show recently and laughed, “If this was Tennessee, I’d be in jail.” Alas, he added with a grin, “He’s showing early signs of heterosexuality.” As tragic as that is, at least it proves beyond a doubt that taking a kid to a drag show doesn’t turn them gay!
By the way, Dustin (who’s been recovering from last year’s head injury) is working on writing a Broadway tuner, but he assured me it’s not Milk the Musical.
Extra bit
From an Oscar winner to a multiple nominee: Spies swear that Glenn Close has turned down the honorary Oscar more than once. I guess she’s holding out for the Sunset Boulevard movie in hopes of finally getting a competitive Oscar, and also, maybe she wants to send them a bit of a “f*ck you” message in the meantime, lol. I wouldn’t blame her.
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CAxlRose
Note to Editor: Lance is Black’s preferred name. Nobody calls him Dustin.
abfab
Editor in this report is Dame Michael Musto. Love him.
dwick
isn’t it Olympic Gold Medalist Tom Daley?
flim
and OBE technically but hey
ShaverC
Dustin Lance Black still looks desperate to be young. Poor kid being forced to go to a drag show, drag is not for kids.
dbmcvey
Your post says so much about you.
ShaverC
dbmcvey: what does it say?
abfab
Even you have to ask….
BLAKENOW
Wow you are such a useless tool for even saying such crap . Guns are not for kids either but you Conservative idiots put all your attention on Drag Queens (somehow warping children minds) and not the real problem that is killing kids which is the guns, guns and more guns.,
abfab
The Gun. The Great American Fetish.
abfab
Correction: The Sickest American Fetish.
ShaverC
BLAKENOW, you just compared drag queens to guns. So what you’re saying is that guns are dangerous and so are drag queens, but if someone doesn’t actively advocate for gun control, they can’t say that kids shouldn’t be at drag shows? How are the two connected? And you can’t argue one is OK if nothing is said another the other.
FYI: I do not have a gun, never had, and do not advocate for them.
flim
why not? I would doubt if he hasn’t already seen at least one pantomime by now i saw loads growing up as a kid in the UK and there were always men dressed as women and sex jokes which totally flew over my head as a kid, also Lance looks like his mum did who also looked v young some people just have more collegen naturally
ShaverC
flim, those pantomimes are geared for a family audience with a “wink” to the adults. Drag is geared for an adult audience with no winking. It’s made to be loud, crass and obscene, and that’s fine for an adult audience, but not for kids.
flim
it depends on the drag show/ i’v been to drag bingo before which was very much a family friendly show as well as seen performers who were dressed like monsters or sea creatures/ completley non sexual, even looking at drag race queens theres a world of difference between sasha velour and bianca del rio or ginny lemon and the vivienne
dbmcvey
@ShaverC
Why do you think the kid was forced?
Doug
Compared to the average Joe, I’m wondering how much more a well-known singer like Sam Smith is expected to tip at a bar before he gets a bad rep like this.
nm4047
I’m surprised to read that even a minor celebrity like Sam Smith actually pays.
abfab
How strange that that would come as a surprise.
dbmcvey
He’s had 7 top ten hits. How many have you had?
GameBoy
“Minor” Sam just won their 5th Grammy and coming from an recent smash single
Glynn
Grouping a Sam Smith article with one about Dustin Lance Black and hubby Tom Daley – Genius. Tip for Sam Smith, go get some enunciation lessons 😉
Openminded
I’m not a big Sam Smith fan at all, but it’s really sad that so many people think fashion can only be awarded to the “first” to wear an item or design. If something looks good on you or makes your personal statement, then wear it no matter how many may have worn it before you. I haven’t the time or care to keep up with who wore what to where.
abfab
Join the club. Personally I would prefer to see Madonna in a pair of 501s, a simple Tee and Birkenstocks. The need to ”over-dress” is a sign….and not a good one. Sam….less is more, but who am I to talk.
Fashion…………..turn to the left.
Fahd
One of Musto’s better efforts of late… I.would never have predicted that Black/Daley would last – go figure. Maybe for career reasons, LA is the place to be for this family. Btw, I love Glenn Close and all that she does.
DavidIntl
Nah, the U.S. really needs to dispense with its annoying tipping culture before it creeps further into the rest of the world. It would actually be very helpful for celebrities to lead the charge on that.
Openminded
I agree. Sadly, since Covid put so many low paid workers in much harder financial spots, tipping has expanded to the point it is out of control. Just about everyone is expecting a tip now. I’d gladly pay a higher price for a meal without tips if the establishment would just pay the wait/support staff a living wage. The check in window at my doctor’s office now has a tip jar!! WTF is going on in America.
dbmcvey
I agree, but not really the point.