Sam Smith, the English singer known for hits like Unholy, Fire on Fire, and I’m Not the Only One, shared candidly about their struggles with body image during childhood. In a recent episode of Penn Badgley’s podcast Podcrushed, the 33-year-old artist, who uses they/them pronouns, revealed they underwent liposuction at the age of 13.
Smith explained that their weight was the hardest issue they faced in school and the main subject of bullying. They described growing physical changes as a teenager, particularly a developing chest, which made them feel highly self-conscious and vulnerable to teasing.
“My weight as a kid was the hardest thing for me in school, and weirdly, the thing I probably got teased the most about.”
Because of the discomfort and bullying, Sam underwent surgery on their chest when they were 13 years old. They detailed how this affected daily life, saying changing clothes at school and swimming were difficult experiences.
“I had surgery on my chest when I was 13 years old because I had a growing chest. There was all sorts of reasons why, but mainly that I was just getting so teased.”
They added, “I couldn’t go swimming in school, and getting changed in the locker room was hell. So I got liposuction when I was 13 years old.”
When asked about their parents’ reaction to undergoing liposuction at such a young age, Sam shared that their parents were very supportive throughout the process.
“My parents were hugely supportive of my decision.”
Smith’s honest account highlights the deep personal challenges of growing up with body image issues and the unexpected steps taken to cope with bullying during adolescence.
Author’s summary: Sam Smith revealed undergoing liposuction at 13 due to bullying and body image struggles, with strong parental support helping them through this difficult time.