Sam Smith quits Twitter after Oscars speech backlash
Sam Smith's acceptance speech at the Oscar Awards has sparked outrage and the singer is leaving Twitter.
Smith won the Best Original Song prize during Sunday night's Academy Awards for Spectre's Writing's on the Wall
During his acceptance speech, he claimed to be the first openly gay man to win the award.
Apparently, Smith was wrong - Sir John Gielgud was the first openly gay actor to win an Oscar for his turn in classic 1981 comedy Arthur.
Among the other openly gay men to be awarded the top honor include Sir Elton John who scooped Best Original Song for Circle Of Life in 1994 and Alan Ball, who took honors for Best Original Screenplay for American beauty in 2000.
One of the winners, 'Milk' screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, hit out at Smith in a tweet that included a link to his 2008 acceptance speech.
The tweet also accuses Sam Smith of texting Blck's fiance, Olympic swimmer Tom Daley.
Sam Smith tried to do some damage control.
Second openly gay man to win an oscar or third or fourth or 100th, It wasn't my point.
— Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) February 29, 2016
My point was to shine some light on the LGBT community who i love so dearly.
— Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) February 29, 2016
Apologies for the mix up @DLanceBlack I'll be sure to check out your films now x Belated Congrats on the Oscar x
— Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) February 29, 2016
Smith eventually wrote that he is leaving the world of Twitter now.
I'm logging off for a while. Some Martinis shaken not stirred are definitely in order.
— Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) March 1, 2016