During their Gloria Tour, Sam Smith paid a poignant tribute to Brianna Ghey, a trans schoolgirl who was murdered in a potential hate crime earlier this year. Smith took to the stage in a flowing emerald Valentino gown and a diamanté halo headpiece bearing Ghey’s name in sparkling letters, while performing a cover of Des’ree’s “I’m Kissing You”. Fans have called the tribute “beautiful” and “gorgeous”.
Brianna Ghey was just 16 when she was found dead in a park in Warrington, and two 15-year-olds have been charged with her murder. Police are investigating the case as a potential hate crime. In a statement, Ghey’s family remembered her as a “larger-than-life character” who was “strong, fearless, and one of a kind”.
While Smith’s tribute to Ghey was a touching moment in the show, it has been overshadowed by controversy surrounding Smith’s tour outfits, with some people branding the performances “satanic” and “vulgar”. However, Smith’s tour is not as risqué as some have made it out to be, and is merely following a pop star handbook that has existed for decades.
Smith’s Gloria Tour is split into three sections – love, beauty, and sex – and sees the singer-songwriter donning diamond-encrusted corsets and thigh-high boots, with some light twerking and a quick flash of their backside during the final few songs. However, at some points, the most risqué thing about Smith’s performance in London was an undone top button.
Throughout the show, Smith delivered flawlessly on both soulful ballads and pop bangers, pleasing all factions of the varied audience. The staging was set around a golden replica of a nude Greek statue, giving the vibe of a high-budget queer jazz club or “gay cabaret”, as Smith described it.
In paying tribute to Ghey, Smith brought attention to the ongoing struggle for trans rights and the need for more acceptance and inclusivity in society. The emotional moment was a reminder of the devastating consequences of transphobia and the importance of standing up against hate.