Sam Smith's Love Life Unveiled: The Complete List Of Boyfriends, From Brandon Flynn To Christian Cowan (2025 Update)
Few artists in modern music have channeled the raw, universal ache of heartbreak into global anthems quite like Sam Smith. The multi-award-winning singer and songwriter, who identifies as non-binary, has built a career on emotionally resonant songs that chronicle the highs and devastating lows of their love life. As of December 10, 2025, Sam Smith’s personal life is thriving, having found a stable and public relationship with a prominent figure in the fashion world, marking a new, joyful chapter after years of relationships that often inspired their most famous melancholic tracks.
The public fascination with Sam Smith's partners is driven by the sheer vulnerability they share in their music, making fans curious about the people who inspired hits like "Stay With Me" and "Too Good At Goodbyes." From brief, formative flings to a high-profile, Hollywood romance, Sam Smith's dating history is a compelling narrative of self-discovery, public scrutiny, and ultimately, finding a partner who shares their spotlight.
Sam Smith: Biography and Profile Overview
Before diving into the relationships that shaped their music, here is a quick look at the life and career of the celebrated artist.
- Full Name: Samuel Frederick Smith
- Born: May 19, 1992
- Age (as of Dec 2025): 33
- Birthplace: London, England
- Occupation: Singer, Songwriter
- Pronouns: They/Them (Publicly announced identifying as non-binary in 2019)
- Breakthrough Hit: "Latch" (with Disclosure, 2012)
- Debut Album: In the Lonely Hour (2014)
- Major Accolades: 5 Grammy Awards, 3 Brit Awards, 1 Golden Globe Award, 1 Academy Award (for "Writing's on the Wall")
- Musical Style: Pop, Soul, R&B, known for powerful vocal range and emotional ballads.
The Current Chapter: Sam Smith and Christian Cowan (2022–Present)
The most significant and up-to-date news in Sam Smith's love life is their enduring relationship with British fashion designer Christian Cowan. This pairing has brought a new level of public visibility and stability to the singer’s dating history, moving beyond the fleeting romances of the past.
The Rise of a Power Couple in Fashion and Music
The relationship between Sam Smith and Christian Cowan began quietly, with rumors starting to circulate in late 2022. Cowan officially confirmed the relationship to The New York Times in May 2024, solidifying their status as a couple.
The couple has since become a fixture at high-profile events, making their red carpet debut at the 2024 Met Gala. Their public appearances have continued into 2025, with them arriving together at the Met Gala 2025, showcasing their unity and shared appreciation for high-concept fashion.
Who is Christian Cowan?
Christian Cowan is a celebrated English fashion designer known for his vibrant, playful, and often extravagant aesthetic. Born in 1995, he launched his eponymous label in 2017 after studying at the London College of Fashion. His designs have quickly gained a massive celebrity following, dressing pop icons like Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Cardi B. His career trajectory mirrors Sam Smith's own success, making them a true creative power couple.
Their relationship is notable for its public support, with Sam often sporting Cowan's designs and attending his fashion shows, a clear demonstration of mutual professional and personal admiration. This partnership marks the longest and most openly celebrated relationship for the singer since their breakout success.
A Look Back: Sam Smith's Most Significant Past Boyfriends
Sam Smith's dating history is relatively short but impactful, with each public relationship coinciding with a major musical release. These former partners are the muses behind some of the most emotionally charged tracks in the modern pop catalog.
1. Brandon Flynn (2017–2018)
The relationship with actor Brandon Flynn was arguably Sam Smith’s most high-profile romance before Christian Cowan. Flynn, best known for his role as Justin Foley in the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, and Sam were first linked in late 2017.
The couple was frequently photographed together, sharing their relationship openly on social media and in public. Their romance lasted for about nine months, ending in June 2018. The split was reportedly amicable, attributed to their demanding schedules and the difficulty of maintaining a long-distance relationship while both were at the peak of their careers. The breakup is widely believed to have inspired much of the material on Sam Smith’s second studio album, The Thrill of It All, and singles like "Too Good At Goodbyes."
2. Jonathan Zeizel (2014–2015)
Jonathan Zeizel, an American model and dancer, holds the distinction of being Sam Smith’s first public boyfriend after the singer's rise to global fame. The pair met on the set of the music video for Sam's single "Like I Can" in late 2014.
Sam Smith was very open about the relationship, even sharing vacation photos on social media. However, the romance was short-lived, lasting only a few months and ending in early 2015. It was the heartbreak from a previous, non-public relationship that inspired the majority of the debut album, In the Lonely Hour, but the split from Zeizel was their first major public breakup, which Sam later discussed as a learning experience.
3. François Rocci (Rumored, 2020)
In 2020, Sam Smith was briefly linked to French furniture designer François Rocci. The rumors began after the pair were spotted packing on the PDA and kissing while on a date in North London. Rocci, who works in the world of unique, high-end furniture design, was a brief rumored love interest following the end of the Brandon Flynn relationship. However, the relationship was never officially confirmed by Sam, and reports quickly faded, suggesting it was a casual fling rather than a serious, long-term commitment.
4. Charlie King (Rumored Fling)
Reality TV star Charlie King, known for his appearance on The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE), was briefly rumored to be dating Sam Smith in the mid-2010s. The fling reportedly began after King expressed his admiration for Sam on Twitter following a Grammy performance. Reports suggested they enjoyed a series of secret dates, though the relationship remained an unconfirmed, casual affair, adding another name to the list of entities connected to the star's love life.
The Heartbreak Soundtrack: How Sam Smith's Boyfriends Inspired Their Music
Sam Smith's artistry is inextricably linked to their relationships. Their music acts as a public diary, turning personal pain into chart-topping success. The "sad bangers" that define their discography are a direct result of the experiences with these partners.
- "Stay With Me" (2014): The breakthrough hit was inspired by the singer's experiences with unrequited love and one-night stands, a theme central to the In the Lonely Hour album, which chronicled a time when Sam felt they could not find a lasting connection.
- "Too Good At Goodbyes" (2017): Released after a period of dating, this song speaks to the emotional defense mechanism of ending a relationship before one can be hurt, a theme that resonated deeply following the pattern of short-lived romances, including the eventual split from Brandon Flynn.
- "Promises" (2018): While a dance track, the song's themes of fleeting connections and a desire for stability often reflect the post-Brandon Flynn period and the search for a more meaningful relationship.
- "Love Goes" (2020): The album title itself reflects a maturity in dealing with breakups, suggesting that while love may end, the lessons and the process continue, a perspective gained after navigating the public splits of the past.
The transition from the deep melancholy of their early work to the more self-assured, joyful expression seen in their recent music—coinciding with the stable relationship with Christian Cowan—suggests a positive evolution in Sam Smith's personal life. The singer has moved from writing about the pain of loneliness to celebrating a partnership that appears to be both supportive and creatively inspiring, offering fans a rare glimpse into a truly happy chapter.
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