Sam Smith opened up on social media about how witnessing a racist act in London left him "speechless."
On Tuesday night, the 23-year-old singer tweeted that his friend was the victim of a racist verbal assault.
Just experienced my friend getting verbally abused racially in London. I am absolutely SPEECHLESS.
— Sam Smith (@samsmithworld)
I never ever ever ever thought that would happen here. Absolutely speechless and hurt.
— Sam Smith (@samsmithworld)
I feel like I have to shine some sort of light on it. The police were so unhelpful in the situation and its deeply shocked me.
— Sam Smith (@samsmithworld)
Humans are HUMANS
— Sam Smith (@samsmithworld)
I feel like I have to say something. I'm just so upset. So UPSET
— Sam Smith (@samsmithworld)
I just got home and Nina Simone is on the radio - fitting
— Sam Smith (@samsmithworld)
Many Twitter users criticized Smith for appearing blind to the everyday racism that exists not just in London or the United States, but everywhere.
The most ironic thing about Sam Smith discovering racism exists is the fact that the story became about him & not his friend, the victim.
— boqor riya. (@hausofriya)
Sam Smith witnessed his friend experience racism and now he wants to "shine light" on something about as known as cars having four wheels.
— PantheR (@____PantheR)
I just wanna know what Sam Smith's grasp on racism was before this point.
— Captain Kirk (@ILLCapitano94)
Sam Smith got Negro spirituals in the background of his songs but just discovered racism existed last night. ok.
— hiba (@502hiba)
why are people expecting poc to praise sam smith for realizing racism exists in the uk when poc in the uk have always been talking about it
— rhia (@clitpiercing)
Me when Sam Smith told me that racism is a thing and police don't care pic.twitter.com/zD3YoNturN
— Bolu Babalola (@BeeBabs)
Smith has yet to respond to the backlash.
H/T Mic
Also on HuffPost:
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
