Her name is Brianna Ghey; Sam Smith pays tribute to murdered trans teen during performance at London’s O2

Sam Smith might have to contend with accusations of “satanism” and questions over outfits during their “Gloria” tour, but that has not stopped the 30 year old from addressing important situations in the trans-right community. Taking to the stage earlier this week during their performance at London’s O2, Smith took a moment to pay tribute, or raise more awareness about, Brianna Ghey, the 16-year-old trans teen who was murdered in Warrington in February.

Smith opened the second act of their show with a cover of “Kissing You” by Des’ree. Wearing a gorgeous green ball gown, Smith also sported a halo-shaped headband emblazoned with the name “Brianna Ghey.” The acknowledgement was very well received on social media, with one Twitter used writing; “@samsmith tribute to #BriannaGhey was beautiful last night.”

Having come out as non-binary in 2019, the “Unholy” singer has often opened up about their troubles facing transphobia since becoming a very visible member of the non-binary community. Speaking to Zane Lowe on the presenter’s Apple 1 show in January this year, Smith admitted that “I think all the only negatives in the struggle have been in my public life and my job," Smith said. "And just the amount of hate and sh*tiness that came my way was just exhausting. And it was really hard and it's not like, this isn't me sitting at home Googling my name... It was in the f***ing news."

"It was hard not to look. But for me, I can deal with not Googling myself, not reading comments. That's something I can control," they continued. "What people don't realise with trans non-binary people in the UK is it's happening in the street. I'm being abused in the street verbally more than I ever have. So that was the hardest part, I think, was being at home in the UK and having people shouting at me in the street. Someone spat at me in the street."

Brianna Ghey’s death may have also triggered sentiments regarding non-binary people that haven’t the privilege of those such as the singer has, which he also detailed during their interview with Lowe. “What I find hard about it is it's like, if that's happening to me and I'm famous, I'm a pop star, can you imagine what other kids, like queer kids are feeling?" Smith said. "And it's just so sad that we're in 2023 and it's still happening. It's exhausting, especially in England."

Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old transgender girl from Warrington, England, was found stabbed to death in a park, and two 15-year-olds, a boy and a girl, have been charged with her murder. Though initially thought to be regarded as a hate crime, Cheshire Constabulary have since waived off this theory, however they did state that the murder was a “planned attack.”