Sam Smith was subject to public uproar over demonic dance number in 2023 (Picture: Getty)
The BBC has promised that Proms headliner Sam Smith will not recreate last year’s provocative live performances on the Royal Albert Hall stage.
The Stay With Me hitmaker, who came out as non-binary in 2019, caused quite a stir last year with devilish performances of their lead single, Unholy ft Kim Petras, which saw major critical success as it topped the charts and landed a historic Grammy.
The duo dressed up in red and black devil-horned latex outfits, with the performances often featuring whips, cages and seductive dance moves.
Fresh off the backlash, Smith, 31, has now been announced as a headline act at this year’s BBC Proms under their expanding pop programme. But the BBC has been quick to reassure concerned Prom-goers.
‘I think what you’ll see is a performance that is entirely appropriate for the Proms and entirely appropriate for the audience in attendance,’ Radio 3 director Sam Jackson said.
Jackson explained the focus would be on Smith and their music, played alongside a unique orchestral arrangement, and that ‘this will be the only opportunity to see Sam Smith in the UK this year.’
Sam has long sparked discourse with their bold outfit choices (Picture: Getty)
‘This is very much a Prom – it’s not Sam Smith at the Royal Albert Hall,’ they concluded. ‘The look and feel will be entirely appropriate for that festival.’
At the time, Smith’s Brit Award performance garnered 106 complaints from Ofcom with Smith at the centre of a social media storm as people dubbed their demonic, fetish-inspired dance as inappropriate and wrong.
Instead, this summer Smith will be performing their 2014 album In the Lonely Hour, to mark its 10th anniversary. This studio album includes hits such as Money on My Mind and I’m Not the Only One.
Florence Welch – from Florence and the Machine fame – will also take her 2009 album Lungs to the stage.
Sam will perform their 2014 album, In the Lonely Hour, at the BBC Proms (Picture: Getty)
Smith has not allowed the continued backlash to dampen their freedom of expression, however.
In June last year, collaborator Petras told Metro.co.uk: ‘People were really harsh to Sam but I was very impressed to see how Sam handled all of that and didn’t let it get close.’
This March, the music artist turned heads on the Vivienne Westwood runway with their tartan-themed, high-waisted pants and killer heels look. And they powered through an unfortunate mishap on the Lollapalooza Argentina stage when their bum popped out for the crowd to see.
But sometimes it’s the simplest look that gets people talking. Earlier this month Smith raised eyebrows by stepping out in a dressed-down blue top and jeans.
The BBC Proms returns in July with Smith set to perform on August 2, 2024.
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