Richard Madeley apologises after calling Sam Smith ‘he’ and bumbling GMB guest’s pronouns

'I am so sorry. I will learn to do that'

Richard Madeley was forced to apologise and has vowed to "learn" to use people’s correct pronouns after a series of blunders on Monday over Sam Smith's latest music video. Smith has sparked fierce debate over the music video for their single, I'm Not Here To Make Friends and ITV's Good Morning Britain played a number of clips from the release. The 30-year-old's latest release sees them dancing provocatively in corsets, suspenders and nipple tassels. Introducing the segment, Richard made an initial mistake as he listed the scenes in the music video and referred to Sam, who used they/them pronouns, as "he". His co-host, Susanna Reid, had to interject to remind Richard of his error, prompting him to apologise. Later in the interview, as the panel discussed whether the music video was over-sexualised, Richard made the same mistake again, this time pointing out that the guest "had a point". The guest then had to inform Richard that they also use they/them pronouns. Richard then apologised for a second time. https://twitter.com/itstherealityho/status/1619969176357212160 https://twitter.com/CommonSenceUK/status/1619974317760200705 "I am so sorry. I will learn to do that," Richard said. Smith announced they were non-binary in 2019, and asked that people use they/them pronouns when referring to them. Speaking to Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, Smith revealed that while there have been no issues with their new gender identity in their personal life, they had experienced harassment and abuse on the streets of England since coming out.

They explained: "I think all the only negatives in the struggle have been in my public life and my job. And just the amount of hate and s***tness that came my way was just exhausting.

"It was in the f***ing news. Someone spat at me in the street. It's crazy. What I find hard about it is it's like, if that's happening to me and I'm famous, I'm a pop star, can you imagine what other kids, like queer kids are feeling?

"And it's just so sad that we're in 2023 and it's still happening. It's exhausting and especially in England."

Related links:

• Sam Smith reveals they were spat at in the street after changing their pronouns
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• Teacher helps pupils change gender identity without their parents permission
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• The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey comes out as non-binary