Sam Smith was spat at in the street after changing their pronouns

During an interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, the Unholy singer was asked to reflect on the highs and lows they have experienced since they came out as non-binary and changed their pronouns to they/them in 2019. "I think the only negatives and the struggle have been in my public life and my job. And just the amount of hate and s**tness (sic) that came my way was just exhausting and it was really hard." Sam Smith / Apple Music's Zane Lowe. Sam then admitted that they can avoid hate online but not in person.