On Sunday night, after they brought a satanic touch to the Grammy awards, Sam Smith and Kim Petras were roundly condemned. According to Variety, the duo performed “Unholy” the night they won the Grammy for best musical duet or group.
Smith performed while clad all in scarlet, complete with a devil horn cap, and accompanied by dancers who looked like Samara from the horror movie The Ring. Famous drag performers Violet Chachki and Gottmik were standing on either side of Petras as she performed in a cage surrounded by flames as they were decked out as dominatrixes with devil horns.
The revulsion was then flowed on Twitter, in response to their performance. With Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas posted, responding to a Liz Wheeler post that said, “… [d]emons are teaching your kids to worship Satan.” He wrote, “This…is…evil.”
This…is…evil. https://t.co/SBrOgHfFcX
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 6, 2023
Stephanie Hamill wrote, “Hollywood freaks still thinking they’re so edgy with their Satanic themed performances.”
Hollywood freaks still thinking they’re so edgy with their Satanic themed performances #GRAMMYs #kimpetras #SamSmith pic.twitter.com/6IyL8YYFdt
— Stephanie Hamill (@STEPHMHAMILL) February 6, 2023
Sabina Palermo wrote, “WOKE #GRAMMYs Satanic worshiping. I cannot believe what i just witnessed.”
WOKE #GRAMMYs Satanic worshiping. I cannot believe what i just witnessed #SamSmith
— Sabina Palermo (@Sabipalermo) February 6, 2023
I know we on the right probably use the word satanic too often but this peformance from Sam Smith is literally a tribute to Satan. pic.twitter.com/1GrNgjssZN
— Ben Kew (@ben_kew) February 6, 2023
The Variety reported that Petras gave an opinion of religion, explaining the performance after the show. Petras said:
“I think a lot of people, honestly, have kind of labeled what I stand for and what Sam stands for as religiously not cool, and I personally grew up wondering about religion and wanting to be a part of it but slowly realizing it didn’t want me to be a part of it.”
So it’s a take on not being able to choose religion. And not being able to live the way that people might want you to live because as a trans person I’m already not kind of wanted in religion. So we were doing a take on that, and I was kind of hellkeeper Kim.”
Twitter users also voiced their feelings, with one writing, “This song is sinfully blasphemous,” and another, “a tribute to Satan,” in reference to the performance.
“I’m a christian, and I find “Unholy” absurd and offensive. It mocks my religion by celebrating unholiness through mortification of adultery, immorality and perversion. This song is sinfully blasphemous, which is very disrespectful to me and my community. BAN THIS SONG RIGHT NOW!” one wrote.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Trevor Noah, the host, however, reportedly handled it as one huge joke during the show.
He said, “No, mom, it wasn’t the actual devil … Yeah, you did warn me about Hollywood,” acting as though he was on the phone with his mother.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were among those laughing at the remark, The Mail noted.
“She said she’s praying for all of us,” Noah told the audience, wrapping up the fake call.
Sources: WesternJournal, Daily Mail, Variety
