Sam Smith has quit Twitter after receiving criticism for comments made in his Oscars speech. The 23-year-old singer, who won the Best Original Song Oscar for his Bond theme tune, said he was taking some time away from the social networking site after a challenging few days.
"I'm logging off for a while. Some Martinis shaken not stirred are definitely in order," Sam tweeted on Monday.
Sam Smith has quit Twitter following the Oscars
The Stay With Me singer had given a heartfelt and moving speech on Sunday as he dedicated his award to the LGBT community. However Sam mistakenly referred to himself as the first openly gay man to win an Oscar – he misquoted Sir Ian McKellen who had actually said no openly gay man had won a best actor Oscar – and the slip saw him widely castigated.
Among those who tweeted to inform Sam of his mistake was Dustin Lance Black, the partner of diving champion Tom Daley, who won the Best Original Screenplay award for Milk in 2009.
Sam, for his part, was apologetic when he woke up on Monday to the Twitter storm that had erupted over his comments. "So hungover. Genuinely feels like a dream," Sam wrote. "Second openly gay man to win an Oscar or third or fourth or 100th, it wasn't my point.
Sam Smith said he was taking some time away from the social networking site
"My point was to shine some light on the LGBT community who I love dearly… Apologies for the mix-up @DLanceBlack I'll be sure to check out your films now x Belated congrats on the Oscar."
Dustin returned to Twitter shortly afterwards to add: "THE POINT: knowing out LGBTQ history is important. We stand on the shoulders of the countless brave men and women who paved the way for us," he wrote.
The 41-year-old has since taken to the social networking site to claim that his comments were a joke. "Well this has proven to be a lively day on Twitter," he wrote. "From humour to anger. The former my intent… in defence of history. Much love to all."
Then dismissing further misunderstandings, he added: "Dear internet@TomDaley1994 and @samsmithworld are pals. They text. Thus my surprise Sam took me for a closet case! Feel free to laugh."