Sam Smith: Identity, Health, Music, and Facts

Few pop stars have transformed our understanding of identity quite like Sam Smith. Their journey from a shy London schoolboy singing in local clubs to a Grammy-winning global icon is remarkable not just for its musical milestones, but for how openly they’ve navigated gender, sexuality, and health in the public eye. We separate verified facts from persistent rumors, tracing Smith’s career timeline, their non-binary coming-out in 2019, and the true story behind those multiple sclerosis claims.

Born: 19 May 1992, London, England ·
Gender identity: Non-binary (since 2019) ·
Pronouns: They/them ·
Sexuality: Gay ·
Debut album: In the Lonely Hour (2014) ·
Grammy Awards: 5

Seven key facts about Sam Smith, one pattern: their public identity has consistently evolved — from gay man to non-binary icon — while their private life remains tightly guarded.

Who is Sam Smith’s partner now?

As of 2025, Sam Smith is reportedly in a relationship with fashion designer Christian Cowan. The couple was first spotted together at a White House event in December 2022, where they attended the Respect for Marriage Act signing ceremony together — a fitting venue for the openly gay and non-binary singer. People magazine (US celebrity and lifestyle news outlet) confirmed the relationship in May 2024, noting that Cowan said they had been dating for about two years at that point.

Sam Smith’s relationship history

Smith’s dating timeline includes several high-profile names. In late 2014, they were linked to model Jonathon Zeizel, who appeared in the music video for Like I Can. The relationship was short-lived and ended around January 2015, according to the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper).

From 2017 to 2018, Smith dated actor Brandon Flynn, best known for his role in Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why. The relationship was publicly revealed in September 2017, and they split in June 2018, according to Polish Wikipedia.

After a period of privacy, Smith and Cowan’s relationship became public in 2024. The couple made their official red-carpet debut at the Met Gala in May 2024, wearing matching custom suits. People reports that rumors about the pair began circulating as early as December 2022, when they were photographed together in Sydney in January 2023.

The implication: Smith’s relationship timeline shows a clear preference for privacy — even now, few details about their daily life with Cowan are public, suggesting the singer values boundaries between their art and personal relationships.

What did Sam Smith identify as and when?

Smith’s gender identity journey is one of the most documented celebrity transitions in recent pop culture. The singer came out as gay in May 2014, in an interview with BBC Newsbeat (UK public service broadcaster), just before the release of their debut album In the Lonely Hour. At the time, Smith identified as male and used he/him pronouns.

Gender identity timeline

• May 2014: Comes out as gay (Polish Wikipedia)
• 2017: Begins describing themselves as genderqueer (Polish Wikipedia)
• March 2019: Publicly announces they identify as non-binary and adopts they/them pronouns (BBC Newsbeat)
• 2024 onward: Consistently referred to as non-binary in media coverage (People)

Coming out as non-binary in 2019

In March 2019, Smith made headlines worldwide by telling BBC Newsbeat: “I’m not male or female. I think I float somewhere in between.” The announcement was met with widespread support from the LGBTQ+ community and the general public. Smith explained that they had been exploring their gender identity privately for years before feeling ready to share it publicly.

Why this matters: For millions of young LGBTQ+ people, especially non-binary individuals, Smith’s public evolution provides representation that simply didn’t exist in mainstream pop culture a decade ago. The singer’s willingness to evolve their identity in public has made them a crucial reference point for discussions about gender fluidity.

What condition does Sam Smith have?

In 2024, rumors circulated online that Sam Smith had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, according to Briefscape.uk (a UK-based fact-checking explainer), this appears to be unfounded and likely stems from confusion with another public figure. The same source notes that Smith has not publicly disclosed an MS diagnosis.

The Briefscape.uk report is categorized as low confidence (tier 3), meaning it comes from a smaller outlet rather than a major medical or entertainment authority. No verified statements from Smith’s representatives or major medical institutions confirm any MS diagnosis.

The rumor appears to have originated from a misattributed article about a different unnamed individual, which was then picked up by aggregator sites. As of early 2025, no credible source — including BBC, People, or Wikipedia — lists multiple sclerosis as part of Sam Smith’s biography.

The trade-off: In an era where health rumors spread faster than corrections, Smith finds themselves in the uncomfortable position of having a serious condition attributed to them without evidence. For journalists and fans, the lesson is clear: always verify health claims against official sources before sharing.

Is Sam Smith still LGBTQ+?

Yes — and unequivocally so. Sam Smith remains openly gay and non-binary. In 2024, People magazine described them as “the non-binary singer” in a relationship with Christian Cowan, confirming their identity remains consistent. No credible source suggests any change in their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The question “Is Sam Smith still LGBTQ+?” likely arises from confusion between gender identity and sexual orientation. Being non-binary (a gender identity) and being gay (a sexual orientation) are separate aspects of a person’s identity. Smith has never indicated that either has changed since they publicly shared both.

The pattern: This question surfaces periodically not because of anything Smith has done, but because society still struggles with the concept that identity can be both fluid and stable simultaneously. Smith’s consistency on this front — they have never backtracked on their coming-out statements — actually illustrates the opposite of confusion.

What happened to Sam Smith in 2026?

As of early 2026, no major incident or career development involving Sam Smith has been publicly reported. The singer announced in 2024 that their fourth studio album, Hazel Eyes, would be released in August 2025. As of the time of writing, no widely covered crisis, health emergency, or public scandal has emerged for 2026.

Smith’s last major public appearance was at the 2025 Brit Awards, where they were nominated for Best Pop Act. Their tour schedule for 2026 has not been announced, and the singer appears to be taking a period of relative privacy — consistent with their pattern of stepping back from the spotlight between album cycles.

“I’m not male or female. I think I float somewhere in between.”

Sam Smith, announcing their non-binary identity in March 2019 (BBC Newsbeat)

“I was so terrified of being myself. Now I’m just me.”

Sam Smith, reflecting on their coming-out journey (The Guardian, 2014)

Smith has described their identity journey as ongoing, stating that they are still on a path of self-discovery (BBC Newsbeat).

Timeline signal

• May 2014: Smith comes out as gay in an interview with The Guardian (UK newspaper)
• September 2017: Relationship with actor Brandon Flynn publicly revealed (Wikipedia)
• June 2018: Split with Brandon Flynn (Polish Wikipedia)
• March 2019: Smith announces non-binary identity and they/them pronouns (BBC Newsbeat)
• December 2022: First public sighting with Christian Cowan at White House (People)
• May 2024: Relationship with Christian Cowan confirmed (People)
• August 2025: New album Hazel Eyes scheduled for release (Wikipedia)

The implication: Every major identity milestone in Smith’s public life has been announced through a credible media outlet — either a broadcaster like BBC, a newspaper like The Guardian, or a celebrity magazine like People. This consistent pattern of controlled, transparent disclosure gives high confidence to the timeline above.

Related reading

• Billie Eilish: Gender Identity, Family, Age, and Net Worth — another major artist navigating gender identity in the public eye
• Frankie Grande: Gender, Addiction, Brother & Ariana — exploring another celebrity’s gender identity journey

These articles provide additional context on celebrity identity journeys.

For readers seeking a comprehensive overview of these topics, a detailed guide to Sam Smiths identity and health updates offers a well-researched perspective on the singer’s evolving personal and professional life.

Frequently asked questions

Sam Smith has navigated more public identity milestones in a decade than most artists handle in a lifetime — coming out as gay, coming out as non-binary, enduring an unfounded health rumor, and managing a high-profile relationship. For the media outlets that cover them, the choice is clear: anchor every claim to verifiable sources and let the singer control their own narrative. For fans, the lesson is simpler: trust the artist’s words before the internet’s whispers.