Sam Smith is facing some serious criticism for his over-the-top, sexually charged music video, which is easily accessible to young viewers on YouTube. The 30-year-old U.K.-based non-binary artist recently released the video for “I’m Not Here To Make Friends,” which is featured on his album “Gloria.”
The video has sparked outrage amongst viewers who were taken aback by its explicit content. It features Smith dancing and wearing pasties while surrounded by scantily clad backup dancers, and even a graphic shot of him being sprayed in the mouth with what some have interpreted as a bodily fluid.
“YouTube does not have any age restrictions on Sam Smiths (sic) degrading sexualized new music video. 5 year olds can search this up and watch it with no content restrictions! Sam Smith, this is not art. This is not trendy. This is not empowering. This is monstrous,” one Twitter account posted alongside a GIF from the music video.
YouTube does not have any age restrictions on Sam Smiths degrading sexualised new music video.
5 year olds can search this up and watch it with no content restrictions!
Sam Smith, this is not art. This is not trendy. This is not empowering. This is monstrous! #SamSmith pic.twitter.com/NoDec6rtEE
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) January 28, 2023
“Sam Smith is a perfect example of what degenerate Hollywood culture does to people. It makes celebrities vulgar, hyper-sexualized and obsessed with wearing their sexuality like a costume and shoving it in everyone’s face,” another account agreed. “And to make matters worse, kids look up to this man!”
“Can I just say I used to love Sam Smith when he made actual music,” a third account echoed. “Since then, he’s become frankly grotesque, cheapened his talent and turned into a complete joke. Why isn’t somebody close to him telling him he looks terrible?”
It’s disappointing to see that Smith is not using his platform to promote anything positive or empowering. His music video is a far cry from the kind of art we should be encouraging young fans to take part in and consume. It’s clear that he is pandering to the woke, LGBTQ+ crowd and using sexualized imagery to do it, which is not only unnecessary, but damaging for young viewers.
Erica Carlin is an independent journalist, opinion writer and contributor to several news and opinion sources. She is based in Georgia.
