Piers Morgan slams Sam Smith for ‘causing Brit Awards shake-up’

Piers Morgan slams Sam Smith for ‘causing Brit Awards shake-up’ as bosses consider abolishing ‘best male’ and ‘best female’ categories

Piers Morgan has slammed Sam Smith for ‘causing a Brit Awards shake-up’ after it was revealed the ‘best male’ and ‘best female’ categories could be abolished.  

The change could affect next year’s Brit Awards and comes just a week after the singer, 27,  who was nominated in the best male category at this year’s ceremony, pleaded ‘after a lifetime of being at war with my gender’ to be referred to as ‘they’ rather than ‘he’. 

On Good Morning Britain on Monday, Piers said: ‘I think it’s just great that time honoured traditions should be scrapped because one guy can’t decide if he is male or female.

Hitting out: Piers Morgan has slammed Sam Smith for ‘causing a Brit Awards shake-up’ after it was revealed the ‘best male’ and ‘best female’ categories could be abolished

‘So they are saying they want to accommodate non binary performers like Sam Smith. Now he’ll enter the non binary categories.

‘The whole point of having gender categories is to make it fair, to make it equal. Now we are going to go the other way.’ 

Piers added: ‘Well I think it is a load of nonsense. The idea you have to change entire award categories for one guy, it’s nonsense.

Brit Awards: The change could affect next year's Brit Awards and comes a week after Sam, 27, pleaded to be referred to as 'they' rather than 'he' (pictured last week)

Brit Awards: The change could affect next year’s Brit Awards and comes a week after Sam, 27, pleaded to be referred to as ‘they’ rather than ‘he’ (pictured last week)

Wining and dining: Sam, meanwhile, uploaded a shirtless snap on Instagram at the weekend

Wining and dining: Sam, meanwhile, uploaded a shirtless snap on Instagram at the weekend

‘If you want to do that Sam Smith, that’s your dime. Don’t change everything else for you because that ain’t the way it should play.

‘I want to identify as a dinosaur. Let’s have a category at every TV awards that is for Best Dinosaur. Once you get into self identification that is the way it goes. 

It comes after it was reported that organisers are deciding whether to update categories to accommodate ‘non-binary’ artists such as Smith, 27, who sang the theme song to the 2015 Bond film Spectre. 

His view: On Good Morning Britain on Monday, Piers said: 'I think it's just great that time honoured traditions should be scrapped because one guy can't decide if he is male or female'

His view: On Good Morning Britain on Monday, Piers said: ‘I think it’s just great that time honoured traditions should be scrapped because one guy can’t decide if he is male or female’

While Brit Awards categories such as best newcomer and best single include male and female nominees, those for best solo performers have been split by gender since 1977. 

A source told The Sun: ‘Bosses are listening to changes happening in the industry. The categories will evolve in the coming years.

‘The male and female categories will still be in place next February but changes are being planned for the following year. 

‘Organisers will be consulting labels and artists alike to work out what is best for the future of the Brits ceremony.’ 

The MTV Movie & TV Awards adopted a gender-neutral acting award in 2017, when it was given to Emma Watson for her role in Beauty And The Beast. 

What is non-binary?

People who identify as non-binary are also part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Identifying as non-binary means that you don’t see yourself as neither a male or female. 

In many cases, people who are non-binary prefer to be referred to as ‘them’ or ‘they’.

Being non-binary relates to a person’s gender rather than the characteristics a person may have.

Singer Sam was met with thousands of mostly supportive comments, along with some detractors, when they came out as non-binary on September 13th. 

‘Today is a good day so here goes. I’ve decided I am changing my pronouns to THEY/THEM,’ they wrote on Twitter and Instagram.

‘After a lifetime of being at war with my gender I’ve decided to embrace myself for who I am, inside and out.’

Sam said they were excited and privileged for the support, adding that they’ve been ‘very nervous’ about the announcement because they ‘care too much about what people think’ but finally decided to go for it.

‘Love you all,’ Sam tweeted, adding they’re scared ‘but feeling super free right now. Be kind.’

The singer noted: ‘P.s. I am at no stage just yet to eloquently speak at length about what it means to be non binary but I can’t wait for the day that I am. So for now I just want to be VISIBLE and open.’

Speaking out: Singer Sam was met with thousands of mostly supportive comments, along with some detractors, when they came out as non-binary on September 13th

Speaking out: Singer Sam was met with thousands of mostly supportive comments, along with some detractors, when they came out as non-binary on September 13th

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk