Sam Smith is the singer with the pearl earring! See photos of their avant-garde BritAwards look:
and uses they/them pronouns — was pleased to be recognized this year, they have previously been critical of the awards show’s gendered categories.
“Music for me has always been about unification not division. I look forward to a time where awards shows can be reflective of the society we live in. Let’s celebrate everybody, regardless of gender, race, age, ability, sexuality and class,” Smith wrote via Instagram in March 2021, calling the Brits an integral piece of their career since winning the Rising Star Award in 2014.By that November, the show’s producers eliminated gender-specific awards categories.
, the former Brits chair, said in a statement at the time. “It feels completely the right time to celebrate the achievements of artists for the music that they create, and the work that they do, irrespective of gender.”. Their “Unholy” duet marked the first time that a transgender woman and a nonbinary individual won in the Best Pop Duo Performance category.