Sam Smith just learned the importance of fact checking, after his acceptance speech for "Writing's on the Wall" (from the James Bond film Spectre) won Best Original Song.
Unlike an actor who says "I really didn't prepare for this" and then unfurls a three-page list of acknowledgements, when the presenter called Smith's number last night, the climax of his speech rested on a dubious piece of information:
"I read an article a few months ago by Sir Ian McKellen, and he said that no openly gay man had ever won an Oscar," Smith said, apparently using his shining spotlight to rack his brain for an old Guardian article he skimmed one afternoon. "And if this is the case, even if it isn't the case, I want to dedicate this to the LGBT community all around the world."
It was not the case.
Unfortunately, Ian McKellen was referring only to an acting award.
People have noted that Elton John won the same award as Smith in 1995 for "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?"
But perhaps the most notable name in Smith's angry Twitter mentions was from another former winner, Dustin Lance Black, who won the "Best Writing, Original Screenplay" Oscar for Milk in 2009.
Not only did Black fire at Smith for the inaccurate comment, but for apparently "being a little overfriendly with his fiancé," British diver Tom Daley, as US Magazine reports.
According the Huffington Post UK, Smith tried to walk back his speech in comments to "Good Morning Britain" at an Oscars after party.
"I had something in my head... I think I'm the secondly openly gay person to win it. Either way it is important that we shine a light on what is going on in the LGBT community as it's not right. I feel like tonight was about diversity in all situations."
Right or wrong, what Smith meant as a powerful message of solidarity was drowned out by the flurry of pinging, stinging tweets that usually accompany a public gaffe.
#SamSmithFacts set Smith as the pioneer of several other moments of questionable historical veracity:
Best of luck to Sam Smith on basking in his prestigious victory today.