Sam Smith labelled as ‘over’ after Michael Jackson confession
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Sam Smith is being called out on social media after confessing that he doesn’t like Michael Jackson’s music.
The “Stay With Me” singer was labelled as “disrespectful and arrogant” while another person announced “Sam Smith is over.”
The controversy began when fellow singer Adam Lambert uploaded a video of Smith to Instagram, where he was caught saying “I don’t like Michael Jackson, but this is a good song,” as Jackson’s ‘Human Nature’ played in the background.
The 26-year-old was met with a barrage of abuse from Jackson’s fans both famous and not. Lambert deleted the post swiftly, but another site Music News Facts republished the video.
T.J Jackson, the King of Pop’s nephew, had some of the harshest criticism for Smith. Alongside other musicians from within the R&B genre, he criticised Smith for “making a career on singing R&B/ soul music” and then “disparaging a soul pioneer”.
Sam Smith made a career on singing R&B/soul music. So to look into a camera and disregard one of its pillars is ignorant, disrespectful and arrogant. Everyone has opinions but @samsmithworld don’t disparage a soul pioneer when they helped paved the way for you and your music. ? pic.twitter.com/SzNQa2QAzr
— TJ Jackson (@tjjackson) August 13, 2018
Other musicians close to Jackson also weighed in on the debate. Stephanie Mills, who dated the late-singer in the 1970s, wrote an Instagram post slamming Smith.
The Grammy-winning singer-actress said: “Don’t come for MICHAEL JACKSON when you wish you have sold as many records and you wish you were the King of Pop like he was.”
“I’m so tired of you people studying our music, and studying our artist and claiming that you don’t like our music,” Mills added, “Go sit your 1 HIT WONDER ass down and learn how to finish a tour.”
Another social media user announced: “Sam Smith is over. What self respecting musician says they don’t like Michael Jackson?”.
Smith hasn’t appeared to respond to the backlash, but will be back in the public eye soon after Calvin Harris announced a joint single to be released on Friday.
