Sam Smith Apologizes To Dustin Lance Black For Oscar Mistake

The newly minted Oscar winner Sam Smith caused quite the digital uproar Sunday when he mistakenly suggested he was the first openly gay man to accept an Academy Award. 

During his speech at the Dolby Theater podium for Best Original Song he said “I read an article a few months ago by Sir Ian McKellen, and he said that no openly gay man had ever won an Oscar. If this is the caseeven if it isn't the case I want to dedicate this to the LGBT community all around the world”

Dustin Lance Black an openly gay screenwriter who won an Oscar in 2009 for Milk was quick to correct the singer among dozens of other media outlets and fans.  After an evening of partying, the Grammy winner emerged on social media to defend himself amid the swirling controversy.  Smith tweeted “Second openly gay man to win an oscar or third or fourth or 100th, It wasn't my point. My point was to shine some light on the LGBT community who i love so dearly” and Instead of launching a Twitter war with the fellow Oscar winner, Smith was gracious and polite while issuing an apology to Black saying “Apologies for the mix up @DLanceBlack I'll be sure to check out your films now x Belated Congrats on the Oscar x.

Musicians Sir Elton John and Melissa Etheridge had taken home the statue for the same category years before the 23-year-old had ever stepped into a recording studio. Several other gay stars had earned Oscar accolades in various other non-musical categories