In 2014, just as Sam Smith's star had begun to rise in the United States, the singer jumped to insist he had no intention of being a champion of the gay community, noting to the Digital Spy "I'm not trying to be a spokesperson. It sounds awful of me, but I'm really just trying to live my life and write music about it...I'm not trying to heal the world."

But it's cool, because he's totally into the whole gay role model thing now!

In the October 23 NME cover story posted to the publication's site today (October 22), Smith backpedals quicker than a chainless 10-speed, and says he's ready to assume the role of out-and-proud, we're-here-we're-queer crusader.

"I want to be a spokesperson," he explains. "I want to be a figure in the gay community, who speaks for gay men. I sell records in countries where gay men get killed and that’s a big thing for me, because maybe one person in that country will pick up my album, realize it’s by a gay artist, and it might change their opinion."

Smith also notes his remarks last year were sort of taken out of context, and he's super proud, just also concerned with being universally palatable at the occasional expense of being honest. Okay!

"I’m a gay man who came out when I was 10 years old, and there’s nothing in my life that I’m prouder of," Smith said. "What I was trying to say was that I didn’t want the album to appeal to just one community, I wanted it to appeal to all of them. I wanted anyone, gay or straight, to be able to relate to me singing about men, like I was able to relate to Stevie Wonder or John Legend singing about girls."

Sam Smith: Begrudging Gay Hero will support Disclosure as Saturday Night Live's musical guest on the show's November 14 episode, the duo tweeted.

Check out a wide collection of celebrities through the years:

More From PopCrush