Photo: Alexia Arrizabalaga
Sam Smith discovered racism exists yesterday, and his profound shock - and insistence that he "never ever ever ever" thought that would happen - led many to accuse him on being pretty ignorant.
The singer initially wrote on Twitter, "Just experienced my friend getting verbally abused racially in London. I am absolutely SPEECHLESS. I never ever ever ever thought that would happen here. Absolutely speechless and hurt. I feel like I have to shine some sort of light on it."
Twitter reacted accordingly, questioning the fact that he was seemingly blissfully unaware of racial inequality for the past 23 years of his life.
When you need examples or when you need to actually 'witness' or 'experience' an oppression for it to be 'true' then you lack empathy
— Vanessa Babirye (@Scarlet_Voice) January 20, 2016
'I didn't know it existed until it happened to me' how about you listen when people tell you. People have been telling you.
— Vanessa Babirye (@Scarlet_Voice) January 20, 2016
Join us next week for Sam Smith Discovers Problems. pic.twitter.com/v2TqsKJ6uz
— Sarah_Woolley (@Sarah_Woolley) January 20, 2016
Even in the absence of other ethnicities, you MUST have heard racist remarks amongst white people themselves.
— Almost Dr Dan (@almostdoctordan) January 20, 2016
I witnessed all my friends get racially abused by the time we were 11. That's why I don't get Sam Smith can be from London & so naive. Idgi.
— Congolesa Rice (@judeinlondon) January 20, 2016
"I never ever ever ever thought that would happen here" really? The city of Stephen Lawrence & Mark Duggan & stop and search? Ok den.
— Congolesa Rice (@judeinlondon) January 20, 2016
…seriously? How is your music heavily influenced with R&B and gospel @samsmithworld but you don’t know the pain behind it or the origin?
After the story went viral, Smith took to Instagram to somewhat clarify his comments - though he didn't really make anything clearer. "For the record," he wrote, "I was merely sharing an experience I had in the hope it would draw attention to how ridiculous itis to be racist in 2016."
"The trouble is," came one of the responses, "racism exists well beyond 'racist abuse'. It exists when white people like us don't acknowledge our privilege."
