Amid Brandon Flynn Rumors, Sam Smith Educates Himself On LGBTQ Community

A lot has changed since Sam Smith's 2014 highly acclaimed album "In the Lonely Hour." Since its release, Smith received his first round of backlash for his 2016 Oscar speech for "Best Original Song," where he proclaimed himself to be the first openly gay man to win an Oscar.

Since the mix-up, Smith openly admitted his mistake and accepted his role in the LGBTQ community, he said during in a Thursday interview with Zane Lowe.

"That's what I learned, that I need to take responsibility," Smith said. "I need to know my gay history before I speak on it. I need to read more, I need to open my mind and grow up."

The 25-year-old artist matured since his initial catapult into stardom and — as promised — became more aware of the impact his stardom has given him.

"By saying the wrong thing, damage can be done to a community," Smith said. "So I am trying to take responsibility ... but that's not going to happen overnight."

While Smith is learning from his past, he is also making strides to improve his mental health. Though previous years have proven to be beneficial to his music career, Smith recognized the bad place he was in during the midst of his music takeover at the 2015 Grammys.

"I needed to be at home with my family and friends, and get those relationships back on track," Smith said. "I didn't know anything about my best friends, and I didn't know anything about my sisters and family — I didn't know them anymore."

Since his gaffe, Smith took a break from partying and let himself "shake sadness' hand." The new Smith is evident in his upcoming album, "The Thrill of It All," which is slated to debut November 3. It features top-singles "Too Good At Goodbyes" and "Pray."

As a genuinely emotional person who is widely known for his breakup songs, Smith found his happiness is something to keep secret from the public. But the singer-songwriter wanted the public to know he is doing well and made his mental health a priority.

"I figured out eventually that I deserve to be happy, and I want to be happy," Smith said.

Though Smith previously said how "insanely single" he was in September, it seemed a relationship has bloomed with "13 Reasons" star Brandon Flynn. They were photographed kissing in New York last week.