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Sam Smith Heckled Near Central Park, Called 'Groomer' by Homophobes

Sam Smith Heckled Near Central Park, Called 'Groomer' by Homophobes

Sam Smith

The British pop singer was just trying to enjoy a stroll along Central Park when an afternoon constitutional turned into a hateful incident.

Cwnewser

Days after their epic appearance alongside Kim Petras at the Grammy awards and their fifth Grammy win for “Unholy,” Sam Smith was verbally assaulted while enjoying a walk along Central Park in New York City.

A video of the encounter has been circulating online.

As they walk along the sidewalk near what appears to be the Central Park Zoo, a group of people shouts homophobic and transphobic insults at the British pop star.

“You belong in hell! Sam Smith belongs in hell! You demonic, twisted, sick bastard,” a woman screeched at the musician, who identifies as nonbinary, in a video posted on social media. “Leave the kids alone, you sick f-----r! Sam Smith is a pedophile! You sick motherf----r, Sam Smith! You’re evil!”

At the end of the 30-second clip, one individual is also heard calling Smith a “groomer,” a false and hateful slur often used by far-right activists who claim LGBTQ+ people are indoctrinating kids to sexually abuse them before another person mentions the Illuminati.

The woman who screamed at Smith is far-right conspiracy theorist Marie Kiernan, who has recently been targeting Drag Queen Story Hour events as she reportedly did before accosting Smith.

“Unholy” debuted in September and quickly rose to the top of the charts.

Republicans have been aghast at Smith and Petras’ Grammy performance, where the two were dressed in red latex and devil horns.

Petras, the first out transgender woman to win a Grammy for best pop duo or group performance, and Smith have been the targets of harassment by right-wing trolls since.

Conservatives denounced the performance as evil and "satanic."

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Christopher Wiggins

Christopher Wiggins is a senior national reporter for The Advocate. He has a rich career in storytelling and highlighting underrepresented voices. Growing up in a bilingual household in Germany, his German mother and U.S. Army father exposed him to diverse cultures early on, influencing his appreciation for varied perspectives and communication. His work in Washington, D.C., primarily covers the nexus of public policy, politics, law, and LGBTQ+ issues. Wiggins' reporting focuses on revealing lesser-known stories within the LGBTQ+ community. Key moments in his career include traveling with Vice President Kamala Harris and interviewing her in the West Wing about LGBTQ+ support. In addition to his national and political reporting, Wiggins represents The Advocate in the White House Press Pool and is a member of several professional journalistic organizations, including the White House Correspondents’ Association, Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, and Society of Professional Journalists. His involvement in these groups highlights his commitment to ethical journalism and excellence in the field. Follow him on X/Twitter @CWNewser (https://twitter.com/CWNewser) and Threads @CWNewserDC (https://www.threads.net/@cwnewserdc).
Christopher Wiggins is a senior national reporter for The Advocate. He has a rich career in storytelling and highlighting underrepresented voices. Growing up in a bilingual household in Germany, his German mother and U.S. Army father exposed him to diverse cultures early on, influencing his appreciation for varied perspectives and communication. His work in Washington, D.C., primarily covers the nexus of public policy, politics, law, and LGBTQ+ issues. Wiggins' reporting focuses on revealing lesser-known stories within the LGBTQ+ community. Key moments in his career include traveling with Vice President Kamala Harris and interviewing her in the West Wing about LGBTQ+ support. In addition to his national and political reporting, Wiggins represents The Advocate in the White House Press Pool and is a member of several professional journalistic organizations, including the White House Correspondents’ Association, Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, and Society of Professional Journalists. His involvement in these groups highlights his commitment to ethical journalism and excellence in the field. Follow him on X/Twitter @CWNewser (https://twitter.com/CWNewser) and Threads @CWNewserDC (https://www.threads.net/@cwnewserdc).