Sam Fender faced major backlash after posing with one huge star.
With three studio albums and multiple awards, its safe to say Sam has reached the ultimate level of success. With his People Watching Tour this year, and multiple nods from the BRITs, it may shock fans to know that the singer's career has not always been smooth sailing - and that he even faced a controversy so large it nearly ended his career.
After his debut song Play God appeared on the 2019 FIFA game, Fender's name grew quickly, his fanbase growing with the release of his debut album Hypersonic Missiles which topped UK's Chart. Awarded the 2019 BRIT award for Rising Star (known as the Critics' Choice) Sam was set for stardom... until he hit a wall in 2021.
At the time of actor Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's legal battle, which was televised on platforms like YouTube and Court TV, Fender was spotted at The Bridge Tavern in Newcastle with Depp and guitarist Jeff Beck. The singer took to socials to post about his Hollywood encounter with the Pirates of The Caribbean actor, uploading a selfie onto Instagram describing Depp as his "hero".
Occurring before Depp winning his case against ex wife Amber Heard, fans shared their disapproval of Sam's post, criticising his insensitivity to the case that covered domestic violence from both parties, as well as accusations of defamation and slander. Since the post, Fender deleted the post and issues a formal apology to to his followers which said: "I want to apologise. I was invited to briefly meet a musical legend and an actor who has been in almost every film I've watched growing up," explaining that the stars spoke of music and that, "without thinking," he posted a pic because "it was pretty surreal".
The singer continued, saying his use of ""heroes" was meant in reference to their careers, but in the context of the trial, was severely misinformed," explaining that the case was never on Fenders mind - despite the fact it was blown up to a global level bigger than the current Lively X Baldoni case is right now. With updates of the Depp-Heard case spamming every social and news platform, it confused fans to how Fender's choice of the term could stand.
His apology went on to state: "I now realise that it was a poor choice of words and timing, but that's irrelevant. It was naïve and disrespectful to those who relate to any of the issues highlighted in the trial and the broader issues it poses. I didn't think it through and I should have. I can't really say anything other than that it was ill-judged and I was ignorant with regards to the trials as a whole, and thoughtless on what my post could imply". The singer signed off, adding that he was deeply sorry.
Though many claimed to have written Fender off as a 'cancelled' celebrity, the artist bounced back a month later with his July single Seventeen Going Under, leading the release of his second album Spit Of You. The single became third on the UK Singles Chart and is now seen as one of his most successful releases.
Now confirmed to be performing on Saturday's ceremony and nominated for several BRITs, Fender's near-death of his career is hard to ignore, especially concerning Amber Heard's recent defence of Blake Lively's case of sexual harassment against producer and It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni - and his huge $400 million defence.
Comments
Leave a Comment