This Morning viewers have vented their frustration on social media after Bob Geldof repeatedly misgendered Sam Smith during an appearance on Wednesday’s show.
The Boomtown Rats singer, 71, was on the mid-morning stalwart to discusses the upcoming 40th anniversary of Band Aid when he recalled Smith’s performance in the song released back in 2014.
Retelling the tale, the activist referred to the non-binary singer as “he” rather than their chosen pronouns, “they/them” throughout his story.
Geldof said: “Sam Smith, I remember him at the microphone had his eyes closed, and he was singing away to the song, and I said ‘Sam, they’re not the words’. He goes, ‘oh yeah, sorry’.
“Because we had re-written the words for I think the Ebola crisis in west Africa.
“And he says ‘sorry’, so off he goes, he closes his eyes again and he starts singing the original words. I said ‘Sam’, and he goes ‘oh yes, sorry, every year in school I have to sing this song.’”
To which host Holly Willoughby responded: “It’s go engrained.”
The musician’s misgendering error didn’t go unnoticed with viewers who equally shared their disappointment over presenters Phillip Schofield and Willoughby for not correcting him.
One shared on Twitter: "He’s on national TV and speaking about Sam Smith. You’d think someone would brief him on Sam’s gender identity or at least correct him. Painful watch.”
Another remarked: "Sorry but why didn’t Holly or Phillip tell Bob he was misgendering Sam Smith.”
“Holly and Phil should have pulled him up on that. Ridiculous,” a third penned.
A fourth tweeted: “Disappointed to hear Bob Geldof misgendering Sam to be honest. People need to get with the times.”
Sam Smith says he loves fishing and identifies as a FisherTHEM not a Fishermen but a Fisherthem 🎣🤦🏼♂️😑 pic.twitter.com/URIXMNYcri
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) February 15, 2023
The Standard has contacted Bob Geldof’s rep for comment.
Geldof is the latest person to misgender Smith. Earlier this month, the star had to awkwardly correct a One Show host who mistakingly misgendered them as they spoke of their dreams of becoming a “fisher-them”.
Elsewhere, Richard Madeley and Ranvir Singh landed themselves in hot water by referring to Smith using “he/him” pronouns.
