Sam Smith reveals consequence he faced of saying no to selfies

Sam Smith is opening up about how their relationship with fame has changed over time, especially their decision to stop taking selfies with fans.

Smith, 34, opened the topic in a new interview with The Guardian, explaining that they made the decision years ago to protect their privacy, but said it initially took an emotional toll. 

"I felt like I was upsetting people all day,” the singer admitted, adding that it eventually led to feelings of depression.

However, Smith shared that through therapy, they've since found a healthier perspective. "I actually have started to find the happiness and the joy of meeting people," adding that they now feel more emotionally balanced overall.

Smith also reflected on how navigating fame at a young age and publicly discussing their identity and pronoun changes added extra pressure earlier in their career.

“The trajectory of fame that I went through at such a young age, and trying to navigate my life as a gay person, then changing my pronouns—the weight of doing that so publicly in my 20s meant that I could juggle less,” they added. 

This reflection comes ahead of the release of Smith's fifth studio album, Hazel Eyes, out later this month. 

Smith recently described the album as a personal tribute to their fiancé, Christian Cowan, saying he has been very supportive throughout the process of making the record.