Oscars 2016: Academy Award-Winner Dustin Lance Black Hits Back After Sam Smith's Acceptance Speech, Where He Suggested 'No Openly Gay Men' Had Won Before

Dustin Lance Black Hits Back After Sam Smith's Oscars Speech
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Dustin Lance Black has responded to Sam Smith’s Oscars speech, where he suggested that no gay man had ever bene successful at the awards show before.

During Sunday night’s ceremony, Sam collected his first ever Academy Award for Best Original Song, for his ‘Spectre’ theme, ‘The Writing’s On The Wall’, saying during his acceptance speech: “I read an article a few months ago by Sir Ian McKellen... and he said no openly gay man had ever won an Oscar.

"I stand here tonight as a proud gay man and I hope we can all stand together as equals one day."

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Sam Smith with his Oscar

Unfortunately for Sam, Sir Ian was actually referring to the acting nominations, with Sir Elton John and Dustin Lance Black among the gay men to have won Oscars in the past.

Dustin - who won his Best Original Screenplay prize in 2008, for his work on the Harvey Milk biopic, ‘Milk’ - has now publicly responded to Sam on Twitter, and he’s not impressed.

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Dustin Lance Black and Tom Daley attending a film premiere last year

Referring to his fiancé, Olympic diver Tom Daley, he said: “Hey [Sam Smith], if you have no idea who I am, it may be time to stop texting my fiancé.”

He added, with a clip of his acceptance speech: “Here's a start.”

Ouch.

Sam triumphed over musicians like Lady Gaga and The Weeknd to win the Best Original Song gong, having previously cleaned up at the Golden Globes in the same category last month.

Here's how Sam reacted to finding out he wasn't the only gay man to have an Oscar from a journalist afterwards (warning, strong language):