Sam Smith to perform at the Proms as BBC insist set will be ‘entirely appropriate for the festival’ – after singer’s controversial shows and risqué outfits

Sam Smith has been announced to perform at the Proms this year – and the BBC have insisted that their show will be ‘entirely appropriate for the festival’.

The singer, 31, has put on a series of controversial shows in recent years and is often seen wearing risqué and sexualised outfits on stage.

Sam announced they were non-binary in 2019 and asked people use they/them pronoun when being referred to.

They will headline a BBC Prom concert this year on August 2 in an expansion of the pop programme.

It comes after Sam’s 2023 raunchy BRITs performance garnered over 100 Ofcom complaints over ‘devil worship’ and a passionate kiss.

Sam performed the song dressed as the devil, complete with horns coming out of their hat, a similar look which sparked the ire of viewers at the Grammys the week before.

Their Gloria tour last year also raised eyebrows with some fans who complained it wasn’t fit for a younger audience.

But Sam Jackson, the director of Radio 3, has insisted Sam’s show for the Proms would be appropriate saying: ‘I think what you’ll see is a performance that is entirely appropriate for the Proms and entirely appropriate for the audience in attendance.

‘The focus will be on Sam Smith and their music and there will be a focus on the unique orchestral arrangement, and the fact that this will be the only opportunity to see Sam Smith in the UK this year.

‘This is very much a Prom – it’s not Sam Smith at the Royal Albert Hall. The look and feel will be entirely appropriate for that festival.’

For their show Sam will sing a rendition of their Grammy-winning 2014 debut album In the Lonely Hour with the BBC Concert Orchestra to mark the record’s 10th anniversary.

Elsewhere during the festival Florence Welch, of indie-rock band Florence + The Machine, will perform her Brit Award-winning 2009 album Lungs.

She will perform alongside Grammy-winning composer Jules Buckley and his orchestra when she takes to the stage on September 11.

It comes after earlier this week Sam displayed their newfangled sense of style once again, as they stepped out in New York in a black flowing cape, but left fans divided on the look.

Sam was stopped on the street by a popular TikToker, The People Gallery, for a fit check of their latest eye-catching ensemble.

The account – run by Maurice Kamara – has won over a million fans for sharing videos asking passersby and celebrities about their outfits, chatting to everyone from Kim Kardashian to Willem Dafoe.

Sam appeared in the latest clip, in a quirky all-black outfit.

They explained their high-necked cape was from Rick Owens, teamed with towering platform heel boots and the favourite bag of celebs, the Prada Cleo, which retails for an eye-watering £2,400.

The hitmaker said their favourite designers at the moment were Rick Owens and Vivienne Westwood, admitting: ‘I never thought Vivienne Westwood clothes were for me and then recently I just can’t stop wearing Westwood. I love it!’

When asked for their styling tip, Sam said: ‘Every day start again. That’s what I do personally.’

They also added: ‘My favourite meal is anchovies with some burrata and a vodka martini’.

While Maurice gushed that Sam ‘looked amazing’ however, fans were less convinced by the avant-garde look.

Several took to the TikTok comments and X to joke that the outfit resembled the capes used by hairdressers to protect customers’ clothing, as well as comparing the look to that of nun or Severus Snape in Harry Potter.

They quipped: ‘When you walk out of the barber still wearing the cape; Looks like the cape my hairdresser puts on me to do my hair; Was he [sic] right in the middle of a haircut or something?’

‘being prepared for a haircut anytime anywhere is wild; Left the cape on from the hair cut; Pretty sure that’s one of those things they put round you went you visit the barber.’

‘serving Professor Snape ELEAGANZA !!; He’s [sic] dressed like whoopi Goldberg in sister act; Barbershop forgot to retrieve their bib.’

‘It looks like Sam smith just left the barber; The hairdressers called and said they want their cape back; There’s a barber somewhere saying ‘You’ll never guess who pinched my cape!”

But several more fashion forward fans approved of the experimental look and hit out at those mocking Sam.

They wrote: ‘If I saw Sam Smith on the street sporting this fancy hair dresser’s cape, I too would stop them to get the fashion details; this what happens when your so happy with life u can express yourself freely’.

‘It’s crazy how someone can be incredibly talented, seem really nice and kind, but get sm hate for simply wearing something they feel happy in; I love the flowy nature of this for them because it just gently hints at their curves beneath.’

Sam has worn many viral outfits over the past few years and hasn’t been afraid to push the boundaries when it comes to fashion.

After coming out as non-binary, they have begun to play with the rigid gender norms in clothing, opting for more androgynous looks.

The five-time Grammy award winner has also been dressing more daringly and  opting for avant-garde looks with outlandish shapes.

Sam went viral online for their red carpet look at last year’s BRIT Awards which consisted of a rubber suit with dramatically flared arms and legs.