Sam Smith grateful for Madonna's support following Unholy controversy

Sam Smith has recalled how Madonna reached out to them following the Unholy music video controversy.

During an interview for Apple Music on Wednesday, the British singer - who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns - credited the music superstar with supporting them following backlash over the 2022 track, a collaboration with Kim Petras.

"Madonna is my mother," they declared to host Zane Lowe. "She's just un-f**king-real."

Smith went on to describe how the Vogue star called immediately after backlash appeared online.

"She, the minute it happened, she made sure she got through to me," the 34-year-old continued. "And she's so aware of queer news and what's happening in the community, (what's happening) to the artists within the community."

Directed by Floria Sigismondi, the music video shows Smith and Petras performing at an erotic cabaret with burlesque dancers.

Several of the pair's live performances of Unholy attracted criticism too, with Smith and Petras accused of satanic worship over their performance at the Grammy Awards in February 2023.

Elsewhere, the Stay with Me hitmaker insisted that Madonna is like a "lifeline" to members of the LGBTQ community.

"You feel that in her music. Her music is a lifeline to queer people and just all of the eras of her and her stamina and how she's just always carried on and on and on. I just find it very inspiring," they added. "I think a lot of queer people find (her music) inspiring. And it's not just a comfort in my personal life; it's a comfort in my music."

Smith is set to release their fifth studio album, Hazel Eyes, on Friday, while Madonna dropped her fifteenth studio album, Confessions II, last month.