English Singer Sam Smith Came Out as 'Self-Partnered'?

The claim about Smith announcing they are "self-partnered" originated from a self-described satirical Facebook account.

Social media lit up in November 2024 with claims that Grammy Award-winning British singer Sam Smith, who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, announced they were "self-partnered," a term implying a romantic relationship with oneself.

For example, one X post (archived) shared Nov. 18, 2024, helped fuel the rumor by stating:

Sam Smith just came out & announced he's "self partnered" meaning they/them are in a relationship itself.

Here is Sam Smith before & after Hollywood.

That post received 1.3 million views as of this writing. Not everyone in the comments section celebrated the alleged claim regarding Smith's supposed relationship status. One X user wrote, "He was normal before???? Personally I'd rather be 'in a relationship with myself' than in a relationship with the wrong person though. It just means you're focusing on yourself/your needs rather than anyone else's," while another responded, "I honestly wonder if the government makes them say stupid stuff like that to show their team players."

However, another response in the comments section highlighted the satirical nature of the original post, stating:

"This Is Satire. Wakefield News (a Satire Page) First Posted It, and Other Pages (e.g., the British Feed Meme Page) Amplified It."

Indeed, the story about Smith announcing they are "self-partnered" originated from Wakefield News, a self-described satire Facebook account known for crafting fictional articles. Wakefield News shared a post on Nov. 17, 2024, titled "Sam Smith has clarified that he is SELF-PARTNERED which means that they is not single but he is actually in a relationship with themselves."

(Wakefield News/Facebook)

In its Intro section, the Wakefield News account described its output as "a news page for people who like a laugh. Nothing on this page is serious. Parody account."

Moreover, Smith has not made any recent announcements regarding being "self-partnered," nor have they released any statements about their sexuality or supposed relationship status on any of their official social media accounts, and no reputable news outlets reported on this claim.

Contrary to the rumors they are "self-partnered," for two years Smith has reportedly been in a relationship with womenswear designer Christian Cowan. In May 2024, the couple revealed their romance when they attended the Met Gala together in New York City.

This isn't the first time Smith has been the subject of satirical claims. For instance, a similar hoax in August 2024 alleged they had come out as "semibisexual," a term meant to parody nontraditional identity labels. That claim also spread across platforms like X and Instagram but was later debunked by LGBTQ+ outlet PinkNews.

Snopes has previously reported on Smith, including the unfounded claim that they shared a "connection" to late financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of sex trafficking.

For background, here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that call their output humorous or satirical.

Nikki Dobrin is based in Los Angeles and has previously worked at The Walt Disney Company, as well as written and edited for People, USA Today and The Hill.