When Howard Stern called Sam Smith “fat,” ugly” and “effeminate,” the British crooner took personal offense, and rightfully so.
He initially took to Twitter and wrote, “Can’t believe what I’ve just read.” That was followed by a second tweet that simply read: “Ignore.”
This prompted none other than Bonnie Hunt (remember her?) to voice her support of the 22-year-old R&B/pop singer:
“Sam, you never let all the amazing reviews go to your head, Pls never let negative remarks go to your heart. You are loved,” Hunt tweeted.
Now, the six-time Grammy-nominee is setting the record straight… with a semi-shirtless picture of himself posted to his Instagram account. The selfie proves Smith isn’t fat. (Not that there’s anything wrong with having an inch to pinch! Besides, science says guys with bellies make better lovers.) It also proves that he’s hairy. And we kinda like it.
Seriously, who knew Sam Smith was an otter? He normally looks so clean cut.
In 2014, Smith’s album In The Lonely Hour topped the list of bestselling artist albums and has since been nominated for six Grammys.
Stern has since responded to the controversy by saying, “I feel bad because the guy thinks I don’t like him. I love him,” and adding that he had Tom Petty’s Sam Smith’s song on his playlist.
Related stories:
Howard Stern Loves Sam Smith Because He’s Chubby And Gay
Sam Smith Forced To List Tom Petty As “Stay With Me” Co-Writer, Dish Out Royalty Checks
Sam Smith Doesn’t Need Grindr When He Has Music Video Extras Hanging Around
Stache99
This reminds me of The Beibs and his tiny dick PR cover. Not even sure what that picture is suppose to show. Very unflattering though.
biguy
hire a trainer and get in shape, problem solved in 6 months tops
ingyaom
Like the fur, but how big is that belly? We have a right to know.
Pistolo
I despise him. His songs are sappy, his lyrics are trite, his fashion is misguided, his smize in combination with his wistful, sullen expression in his music videos are insufferable.
AdrianS
@Pistolo: Too true. Can’t find anything in him.
Allan
Honestly who gives a shit. Everyone is so obsessed with outward appearance. Hello people he has a great voice, isn’t that enough. I tired of all the celebrity selfies and selfies in general. Are u that I secure
Stache99
In a way I do kind of understand why Sterns words stung. When it comes to pop music getting your music sold is based allot on sexuality because it’s being marketed to young adults. If he did Jazz or classical stuff it wouldn’t matter. If you get talked about as fat or ugly though it will dry up. Otherwise, people like Ruben Studdard or Troy Akin would be popular as they had great voices too but….
1898
Headline: “shirtless pic”
Actual photo: he’s wearing a winter parka and it’s slightly unzipped
Yay clickbait!
sanfranca1
Okay, where’s the shirtless pic?!
Stefan
The belly is huge, thus the parka.
droc
this is news
Alan down in Florida
Sam Smith is lovely just as he is even if I hate the haircut. If I were 40 years younger I’d ask him out.
jaleoman
Queens why some of you have to be so
Shallow and self hater, Sam Smith is part of
Our LGBT community, and he is very talented
And have beautiful songs. Stop hating our gay
Stars. We should be attacking the asshole
Howard Stern.
frshmn
He’s extremely talented, and made it big on those merits, not based on his looks. Stern just said that in an a–holish way.
Stache99
@jaleoman: Not sure why you’d say that. Stern might not be pc enough for you but he’s a great ally to have. He doesn’t hold back on anyone and it’s just best to laugh it off and not get all butt hurt over it.
Xzamilio
@jaleoman: No, we shouldn’t be attacking Howard stern or Sam Smith. Let’s be honest: Stern was blunt, but he wasn’t wrong. Sam Smith has a gorgeous voice, and as a singer, THAT’S what should matter. But, let’s be honest… all these people coming to his defense are pretty much validating what Stern said, and I’d rather have someone blunt than patronizing people around me treating me like a 4 year old with the proverbial “sticks and stones” nonsense. I knew what Stern said would get to Smith, because it’s hard to shake those things off, especially when you carry that with you from childhood.
Stache99
@Mark Jenkins: Stern talks about his tiny dick and how ugly he is all the time. It’s practically his stick.
Mark Jenkins
Who gives a crap what Howard Stern says? And why is he even allowed to be on the air? And doesn’t HE have any friends to tell him how unattractive HE is? Get a nose job, Howard- and do something about the hair- you’re a mess! And your obnoxious attitude towards people obviously more attractive and talented than you are (your jealousy is showing!)makes you even more unlikable!
DarkZephyr
@Xzamilio: With respect because you know I’m a fan of your comment style and I think you are a very sensible person, but what was Stern not wrong about? Now I have never ever heard Sam Smith sing, so I don’t know what he sounds like, but I don’t see a person that I would describe as an “ugly motherfucker”. He looks to have lost some weight too, and I think his face is quite lovely. I totally and sincerely believe that Stern was throwing seriously douchey shade and is now kinda lying about it.
jwtraveler
How about focusing on Sam’s singing. That’s what counts. If you don’t like it, you’re entitled to your opinion, but the rest doesn’t matter.
Curtispsf
People…Howard Stern is almost a billionaire who has made a career as a shock jock by being controversial and blunt to the point of being obnoxious. He is self effacing and often says on the air that he is ugly and has a tiny dick and that he would not have such a beautiful wife but for his money. You don’t have to dig hard to understand what Stern said about Sam Smith: Sam is enormously talented and successful because he has a beautiful voice, despite not having marketable “pretty boy” looks…and that is the truth. Stern paid Smith a compliment but he did so in classical obnoxious Howard Stern style…designed to get a rise and generate discussion…which it did. Howard Stern is VERY smart and good at what he does.
I happen to like Sam Smith just the way he is…you don’t have to be “pretty boy” cute to be attractive; it’s the whole package, voice and all. So lighten up, play nice and step back for a moment and stop attacking Stern…unless you wish to do exactly what Stern intended in the first place. Howard Stern LIKES Sam Smith; if hge didn’t he would have ignored him.
dhmonarch89
I wouldn’t call that shirtless- unless there’s a link I missed- a jacket like that can cover A LOT!!!
LuckyboyLA
So Sam’s an average, semi-chunky Brit. Being called ‘fat’ by Howard Stern is a huge publicity bump. Everyone knows his shtick. Besides, Sam has a voice, a career, and a BF. What have u little perfect queens who had neg comments? Six pairs of skinny jeans?
Cam
Shirtless? he’s wearing a parka.
[email protected]
Dear Sam: get to work writing and recording and performing; go on The Howard Stern Show, kiss, make up and have a blast; no more selfies; no more back-up dancers or chorus boys unless you have the good sense to keep it a secret; finally, hire a good PR firm to do ALL OF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA FOR YOU.
Love, your pal Jim.
mz.sam
Sam: Forget talk-whore Howard, its your beautiful singing and phenomenal voice that we all love and want more of. Anything else other than that…NO FREE SAMPLES, please!
Cam
@[email protected]: :::Clapping:::
damon459
Um yeah from what I have seen his a bit on the chubby side. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2896343/Sam-Smith-goes-shirtless-hits-beach-swim-Sydney.html
DavidTheLeo
Howard Stern makes me sick!
Xzamilio
@DarkZephyr: I’ve known Howard Stern’s persona and his style a lot longer than I’ve known who Sam Smith is, so I know how his shtick works. Stern is a douche, a shock jock, and he’s made it to where he is saying it like it is. I don’t think Sam Smith is ugly at all, but I do see where Stern is coming from, because I don’t see the comments about wanting to fuck Smith as much as you see them for Justin Timberlake, 1 Direction, and anything else chiseled, taut, and brooding sexiness. And no offense, but even your comment just comes off as a polite “He’s nice, but I don’t want him sexually.” But, like I said, he’s a beautiful singer, and that’s what should matter. And it does. This pic up at the top though isn’t flattering at all.
tradskinhead808
if not for the fact that I’ve seen this man’s name thrown around here a few times, I’ve no idea who this guy is or why he’s such a big deal. That being said, I certainly wouldn’t judge him based on what he looks like. Now if he puts out pop music and/or cheesy ballads, then that I’d be glad to judge him for. But his entire physical appearance, that’s just is irrelevant.
And Howard Stern, he really ought to look in a mirror. He’s pretty nasty looking himself.
DarkZephyr
@Xzamilio: No worry, I take no offense. But you don’t have to want to have sex with somebody to acknowledge that they aren’t an “ugly motherfucker”, wouldn’t you agree? I do agree with you that the music is all that should matter. Stern didn’t need to make the comments that he made as far as I am concerned.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
“My feeling about gay people is that we have a responsibility not only to make gay marriage acceptable and to make gays feel accepted as much as heterosexuals…Gay people are downtrodden They are beaten. They are abused for their sexuality, and it goes across race. In the white community and the black community gay people are the bastards of the world. And in order for things to change, because any one of you could have gay children, or gay relatives, or gay friends…we have a responsibility to make this acceptable, to get all this bullshit so that some gay kid going to high school doesn’t get the shit beaten out of him just because he’s gay…I’m as heterosexual as they come. What is this hang-up about gay marriage? Who cares? Get on with your life!”
Howard Stern
Stern is an equal opportunity offender, he is 100% non PC. He will take jabs at any one or thing Gays, Lesbians, Transexuals, Transgender et all. However when it comes to speaking out against those who spew hatred and bigotry against others he does not hold back. He has been a staunch defender of the Gay community for decades.
I think Sam is actually kinda sorta cute, even with his belly Sam has to learn to grow thicker skin, and if you are going to rebut someone calling you fat, don’t post a picture that proves him kinda sorta right……………………
Stache99
@PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS: Very nice comment:-)
brent6696
Mr. Stern was creating a media “thing” to get more coverage for Mr. Smith.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
@Stache99:
tyvm!
Stache99
@twinktwice: Thanks I just went and had a look myself. Damn. He’s definitely chubby to say the least.
twinktwice
@damon459: Was about to link the very same article, but obviously you were faster, haha. 🙂
Well, if that’s not chubby, i don’t know what that word means anymore…
Xzamilio
@DarkZephyr: He didn’t need to make them, but in his line of work, he’s paid to be frank with an added extra flair. And you are right about simply complimenting people without wanting them sexually, but in pop music, sexiness is practically a requirement. Sam Smith is sexy in a challenging way… a way that forces you to actually look at everything about the person and not just surface appearances. I know what Stern said was insulting, but it doesn’t shock me at all
Sidenote — and this is not directed to you personally, Zephyr — : When you hear someone say “He/She is not a ‘conventional beauty’…”, it’s simply a watered-down way of saying “He/She’s ugly.”
iBLOW
Sam won’t be big for long he’s on some diet to lose weight before the Grammys in a few weeks. Plus I can see him getting a personal trainer after this, but honestly if I was a celeb that would be one of the first things I would invest in.
MrFlux
Maybe Queerty needs to check out the paparazzi shots of Sam at the beach in Sydney recently and rethink this post.
rikki
He’s a bloody singer not a model.
Cam
@MrFlux:
You mean these?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2896343/Sam-Smith-goes-shirtless-hits-beach-swim-Sydney.html
DarkZephyr
@Xzamilio: I see a lot of people defending what Stern said, and acting like he should be allowed to say whatever he wants without criticism or scrutiny because this is “just how he is”. I know you aren’t one of them, but I find this whole thing to be monstrously annoying. I honstly think that Stern has probably given Smith a complex that he didn’t need to be given. Now of course hordes of gay men are jumping on the fat shaming band wagon started by Stern. I find it irritating that nobody seems to notice or give a f*ck that Sam is quite obviously losing a lot of weight. I don’t think he should have to, but if he wants to, more power to him. People are posting links to months old photos as proof of what a big fat worthless pig he is. I’ll be honest, I’m more than annoyed. I’m p**sed. I’m so freaking tired of this embarrassing shallow aspect of the gay male community. And Stern isn’t even gay and he just added tons of his own bullsh*t to this whole obnoxious mess. Years ago (and I rarely admit this) when my long term boyfriend left me for the man he was cheating on me with I got depressed and packed on a *little* excess weight and caught hell for it from other gay men, so I know how awful it feels to be fat shamed like this by your own gay brothers. I have long ago since lost the weight but I will never forget the fat shaming for as long as I live. As far as I am concerned, Mr. Shock jock can kiss my sweet ass.
TONYREMO
Not one person that has commented actually heard what Howard Stern said. Everyone just runs with little bits they hear in the media. Howard Stern is one of the most outspoken advocates in broadcasting for the gay community. 95% of you here wouldn’t have too much good to say about that same anonymous pic of a 22 year old on some gay hookup site.
Captain Obvious
Stern sounds like a 14 year old mean girl. Who still calls people fat and ugly as a grown ass adult?
Cee
Howard Stern? lol Moving on.
charmin88
I love Captain obvious avatar. It just makes me laugh lol… I wish I could get a avatar and not a blank profile:(