Sam Smith is surprised to find out he’s not the first gay man to win an Oscar: ‘Who was the other one?’

Confused: Sam Smith seemed surprised to find out he wasn't the first gay man to win an Oscar
Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Jennifer Ruby29 February 2016
The Weekender

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Sam Smith seemed surprised to be informed that he wasn’t the first gay man to win an Oscar.

The British songwriter, who suggested that he’d made history while picking up his gong for Best Original Song, asked reporters: “Who was the other one?”

After making the bold claim on stage during Sunday night’s ceremony, it wasn’t long before Smith was informed that a number of gay people had been honoured in the past.

But Smith didn’t quite seem to grasp that there has been multiple winner from the LGBT community, saying:

“S**t. F**k that. Two’s my lucky number, so it’s all good. Who was the other person?”

There have actually been a number of openly gay award winners including Elton John, who won in the same category in 1995, Stephen Sondheim, filmmaker Bill Condon and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black.

The Oscars 2016

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Smith had apparently mis-read a recent interview with Sir Ian McKellen, in which he stated that no openly gay man had ever won the Best Actor Oscar.

Speaking on stage, he said: “I read an article a few months ago by Sir Ian McKellen and he said no openly gay man had won an Oscar.

“If this is the case, I want to dedicate this to the LGBT community around the world.

“I stand here tonight as a proud gay man and I hope that we can all stand as equals one day.”

Lance Black was quick to call him out on Twitter by posting a link to his own acceptance speech from 2009, while asking him to stop texting his fiancé Tom Daley.

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