Sam Smith Reveals Childhood Struggles Leading to Liposuction at 13
Sam Smith shared candidly about their difficult relationship with their body during a recent podcast interview with Penn Badgley on Podcrushed. When asked about challenges they faced growing up, Smith focused on the impact of weight-related teasing and stigma.
Challenges with Body Image and Bullying
Smith explained,
“I was just getting so teased, I couldn’t go swimming in school.”They described how their weight was the biggest issue they faced among other aspects of their identity, including their queerness, which they felt was easier to accept since coming out as gay at age 10.
Impact of Teasing Resulted in Early Surgery
The ongoing bullying about their weight and chest led to Smith having liposuction surgery at 13, supported by their parents, to address a "growing chest." They recalled,
“Getting changed in the locker room was hell.”
Although the surgery technically succeeded, Smith called the experience a “nightmare” and revealed they wore the post-surgery chest bandage for more than a year despite being told it was only needed for a month.
Aftermath and Emotional Struggles
Smith admitted,
“If I wore the bandage, it meant that I would get to the front of the lunch queue.
Because everyone had to be sensitive about my chest.”They explained this led to eating more during lunch, which undermined the surgery’s effect:
“And so the surgery never really worked. Because I just love food.”
Summary
Sam Smith’s early liposuction was driven by relentless bullying over their weight, highlighting the complex emotional toll of body image challenges during childhood.