Sam Smith quits Twitter over Dustin Lance Black Oscars row: 'I’m logging off'

The singer announced he will be filling his time with Martinis - shaken not stirred
'Logging off': Sam Smith will not be tweeting for a while
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Emma Powell2 March 2016
The Weekender

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Sam Smith has temporarily quit Twitter over an Oscars row with Tom Daley’s fiancé Dustin Lance Black.

Smith, 23, was criticised by Black after he claimed that he was the first openly gay man to win a prize at the Oscars.

The singer made the claim during his acceptance speech on winning the Best Original Song Academy Award for Writing's On The Wall.

Speaking on stage at the Dolby Theatre he said: “I read an article by Sir Ian McKellen and he said no openly gay man had ever won an Oscar.

"I want to dedicate this to the LGBT community all around the world.

"I stand here tonight as a proud gay man and I hope we can all stand together as equals one day."

Black – who won an Oscar in 2009 for Milk – was quick to correct Smith’s mistake, tweeting: “Hey @SamSmithWorld, if you have no idea who I am, it may be time to stop texting my fiancé.”

Smith explained that regardless of his mistake the aim of his speech was to “shine some light on the LGBT community”.

He tweeted: “Second openly gay man to win an oscar or third or fourth or 100th, It wasn't my point.

“My point was to shine some light on the LGBT community who I love so dearly.”

Following the backlash he last night revealed that he will be taking a break from Twitter: “I'm logging off for a while. Some Martinis shaken not stirred are definitely in order.”

Smith isn't the first celebrity to quit the social networking service of late. Stephen Fry logged off after users criticised him for calling BAFTA award winner Jenny Beavan a "bag lady".

Oscars 2016 After Parties

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