Ian McKellen has congratulated Sam Smith on his Oscar win, and cleared up one of his previous comments about possible homophobia among Academy voters.
Smith has been the subject of much derision since his Best Original Song win last night after he claimed he might be the first openly gay man to win an Oscar, despite wins in the past for the likes of Dustin Lance Black and Elton John.
During his acceptance speech, Smith referenced an interview with McKellen in which he challenged the Academy's record on honouring gay actors. But the Lord of the Rings star has quickly pointed out Smith's error.
"I'd said no openly gay actor had received #Oscars - that doesn't detract from @samsmithworld achievement. Congratulations to him & all others," McKellen wrote on his Twitter.
Smith has since tried to qualify his comments to little avail, saying on Good Morning Britain: "No, I am wrong - I think I am the second openly gay man to win an Oscar."
McKellen made the original remarks at a BFI event, asking whether it is "prejudice or chance" that no openly gay actor has won the Oscar.
"My speech has been in two jackets… 'I'm proud to be the first openly gay man to win the Oscar'. I've had to put it back in my pocket twice," he said, before pointing out that three heterosexual actors playing gay men have won the prize.
Movies Editor, Digital Spy Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor. Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world. After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.
