Sam Smith reveals they had liposuction at the age of just 13 after being ‘brutally’ bullied at school

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As someone who’s followed Sam Smith’s journey, I was really moved by their recent openness. They shared that they had liposuction, and it all stems back to some incredibly hurtful bullying they experienced in school about their weight. It’s a powerful reminder that words can have a lasting impact, and I applaud their honesty in speaking out about it.

The singer, who doesn’t identify as strictly male or female and prefers gender-neutral pronouns, shared that dealing with their weight was more challenging during their teenage years than coming to terms with their LGBTQ+ identity.

On the Podcrushed podcast, 33-year-old Sam revealed that they were teased relentlessly about their weight growing up at a Catholic high school in Hertfordshire. This led to them undergoing liposuction on their chest when they were just 13 years old.

Sam shared on Penn Badgley’s podcast that they had chest surgery at age 13 to address chest development.

I stopped going swimming in school because I was relentlessly teased. Changing in the locker room was especially awful, so I had liposuction at the age of 13.

I’ll never forget what Sam told me about their parents. They were amazing – completely on board with everything, because they could see how much I was struggling and how it was affecting my life. They really understood how deeply it was impacting me, and they were just incredibly supportive.

But the surgery wasn’t a success because, as Sam explained, ‘I just love food.’

‘The liposuction, it worked, but it was also a nightmare because they gave me a bandage,’ Sam said.

I used a bandage as a way to cut in line for lunch. I wore it for almost a year, pretending to be sick to get to the front, but the surgery I had actually didn’t fix the problem.

In 2023, Sam shared that they experience something like the opposite of body dysmorphia – they’ve learned to truly love and accept their body.

Oh my gosh, you guys, Sam just told The Sunday Times the most amazing thing! They said that crazy 2018 tour totally changed them, made them really think about everything. And now? Now they’re happier than ever with who they are! It’s just… incredible to hear them say that. I’m seriously so happy for them!

After the 2018 tour, I often felt embarrassed at the pool, but I made myself remove my shirt anyway.

All the effort was worth it – I’ve completely changed how I see my body and I feel great. I’m even getting a tan, though I might have overdone it in a few spots!

My mum noticed I’ve become less concerned with other people’s opinions as I’ve gotten older, and she’s usually right about things like that.

I was so thrilled to see Sam finish up their incredible month-long residency in New York! It was perfectly timed with the release of their new single, also called ‘To Be Free,’ and everything just felt really connected. It was amazing to witness!

Sam recently performed at a smaller, more personal venue as part of their Brooklyn residency. They shared that they had to gradually rebuild their confidence performing in larger arenas after experiencing a panic attack while on stage in South Africa seven years prior.

Sam shared that, for the first time, anxiety prevented them from performing their job. They had to seek therapy to learn how to manage it, as they worried they wouldn’t be able to sing in public again without help.

Sam shared that they were diagnosed with OCD after starting therapy. However, after taking medication for years, they felt like the illness was controlling them, rather than the other way around – they wanted to feel like they were overcoming it, not just living with it.

I then switched to a new type of therapy with a different therapist, and I decided to stop taking my medication. Instead of identifying with a diagnosis of OCD, I began to describe myself as someone who is fluid and adaptable, like water.

My gender expression, what kind of music I like, how my body changes, and my mental health are all fluid and constantly shifting. My mental wellbeing isn’t static; it goes up and down like waves.

When I start to feel anxious or have a panic attack, I’ve learned to think of those feelings like the weather – they come and go, and I know they won’t last forever.

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2025-11-06 11:21