Richard Madeley was forced to apologise and say he would ‘learn’ to use people’s correct pronouns after a string of blunders during an interview on Monday morning.
The Good Morning Britain presenter was helming a discussion on Sam Smith’s latest music video in the ITV studio, alongside co-host Susanna Reid.
Sam Smith has sparked a fierce online debate over the music video for their new single, I'm Not Here To Make Friends and the ITV morning programme played a number of clips from the release.
The 'Like I Can' hitmaker's latest release sees them arrive at a castle via helicopter before dancing provocatively in corsets, suspenders and nipple tassels.
Yet as Richard introduced the segment he made an initial blunder as he listed the scenes in the music video and referred to Sam, who used they/them pronouns, as ‘he’.
Sat next to Richard, Susanna was forced to cut in and remind Richard of the fact, prompting an apology from the presenter.
Then later in the interview, as the panel discussed the music video and whether it was over-sexualised, Richard again made a pronoun mishap as he said the guest 'had a point'.
The guest then interjected to inform Richard that they also use they/them pronouns, prompting a sheepish Richard to apologise once again.
Richard said: "I am so sorry. I will learn to do that."
30-year-old singer-songwriter Sam Smith announced they were non-binary in 2019, when Smith asked people to use they/them pronouns when referring to them.
While the Unholy singer said their personal life has hugely improved since the announcement, they recently shared in public the vile abuse they have suffered.
In an emotional interview, Sam said: “What people don’t realise with trans/ non-binary people in the UK is it’s happening in the street.
“I’m being abused verbally more than I ever have. So that was the hardest part.
“Someone spat at me. It’s crazy. What I find hard is if that’s happening to me and I’m famous, I’m a pop star, can you imagine what other queer kids are feeling?
“And it’s just so sad that we’re in 2023 and it’s still happening.”
The three-time Brit winner told Apple Music 1: “It’s been crazy to be in New York and LA, because I feel like I can dress and be myself more in these cities than I can at home.
“I went to the White House and having Joe Biden stand up and say all these things, talking about trans people and how he sees them, he sees us. I haven’t heard that in my own country from politicians.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
