Sam Smith: Gender Identity, Partner, MS Rumor Explained

There’s a reason people keep returning to Sam Smith’s story: it keeps shifting. In 2024 alone, the singer made headlines for a red-carpet debut with their partner, released new music, and inadvertently became tangled in a health rumor involving a completely different person with the same name.

Full name: Samuel Frederick Smith ·
Date of birth: 19 May 1992 ·
Nationality: English ·
Profession: Singer and songwriter ·
Gender identity: Non-binary ·
Partner: Christian Cowan (confirmed 2024)

Six records drawn from press coverage and official records establish the basic profile of Sam Smith.

What is Sam Smith’s gender identity?

Sam Smith’s public declaration of their gender identity has been a gradual and highly documented process. The turning point came in March 2019, when Smith told BBC News (UK public broadcaster) that they are “not male or female.” The statement was a formalization of sentiments expressed years earlier.

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

– Sam Smith to BBC News (2019)

In a 2017 interview with NME (music publication), Smith said they felt “just as much woman as I am man.” Six months after the 2019 announcement, the singer updated their pronouns to they/them on social media, a move covered by Good Morning America (US morning show). In later interviews, Smith has used both non-binary and genderqueer language to describe their identity, as reported by Teen Vogue (youth culture outlet).

The implication for fans and observers is that Smith’s identity is not a static label but an ongoing part of their personal and artistic expression, one that has broadened representation in the music industry.

Who is Sam Smith’s partner now?

For years, Sam Smith kept their romantic life out of the headlines. That changed decisively in 2024 when they stepped onto the red carpet at the Met Gala with fashion designer Christian Cowan. Vogue (fashion authority) described the appearance as a “chic couple moment” and noted that Cowan designed Smith’s entire look for the evening.

The relationship, which had been rumored since December 2022, was officially confirmed in May 2024. According to People (celebrity news outlet), Cowan stated that the pair had been dating for about two years. Despite the confirmation, Smith and Cowan have kept the deeper details of their partnership relatively private, a balance that Them (LGBTQ+ culture outlet) noted as a deliberate choice.

The pattern here is clear: a private person slowly, deliberately allowing specific public glimpses into their personal life, mirroring the cadence of their gender identity disclosures.

What was Sam Smith diagnosed with?

This question has generated significant search volume, yet the answer requires careful disambiguation. In May 2024, MS Auckland (New Zealand health charity) published a story titled “Funnyman Sam Smith shares his MS story,” detailing how a comedian named Sam Smith coped with his multiple sclerosis diagnosis. The article went viral, leading many to believe it referred to the singer.

“I thought my whole world would turn upside down…”

– Comedian Sam Smith speaking to MS Auckland (2024)

The content of the article clearly identifies the speaker as a comedian based in New Zealand. There is no public record, statement from the singer Sam Smith, nor credible report from major outlets such as BBC News or People that connects the singer to this diagnosis. The rumor appears to stem from a straightforward case of mistaken identity.

The takeaway for readers is to approach health-related rumors with caution, especially when the primary source is a third-party charity and not the subject’s own verified channels or established medical journalism.

What is happening with Sam Smith?

Professionally, 2024 is gearing up to be a major year for Sam Smith. They have announced a new album titled ‘Hazel Eyes’, marking their first full-length release since ‘Gloria’ (2023). The lead single ‘My Guy’ has already generated buzz, and a supporting tour is expected to be announced.

On the personal front, the confirmation of their relationship with Christian Cowan has been a defining narrative. The couple’s appearance at the 2024 Met Gala, covered extensively by Vogue, signaled a new era of public visibility. Smith’s approach to managing this narrative connects to a wider pattern seen in the careers of other major artists, such as the detailed biographies of Cyndi Lauper and Kacey Musgraves.

For a star who once maintained strict boundaries, the current chapter represents a notable shift toward a more integrated public persona—artist and person sharing the same spotlight.

What happened to Sam Smith?

Looking back at the events of 2023 and 2024, Sam Smith’s trajectory is defined by artistic evolution and personal milestones. Their 2023 single ‘Unholy’, a collaboration with Kim Petras, won a Grammy Award, marking one of the highest points of their career. The song’s provocative theme and visuals also sparked considerable public discussion, a pattern Smith has increasingly leaned into.

The major personal event of 2024 was the public debut of their relationship, but equally significant was the wave of health-related searches following the MS Auckland article. This rumor, though based on mistaken identity, dominated search queries about the singer. Coupled with the announcement of ‘Hazel Eyes’ and their relationship confirmation, 2024 has been a year where Smith’s artistic output competes with public speculation for headlines.

The consequence for Smith is a public narrative that is increasingly fragmented between news cycles about their music, their partner, and a health crisis that does not belong to them.

For the audience tracking Sam Smith’s journey, 2024 represents a point of convergence where artistic ambition, personal transparency, and internet rumor collide. The singer’s career is on an upward trajectory with a new album and a high-profile relationship. The persistent health rumor, resolved only by careful disambiguation, remains a loose thread in the fabric of their public narrative. For Smith, the choice is clear: continue to prioritize the music and the carefully curated personal reveals, or directly cut the thread by addressing the confusion head-on.

Related reading

• Cyndi Lauper: Biography, Health, and Net Worth
• Kacey Musgraves: Sobriety, Rumors, Children & Biography

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