Many viewers who tuned in to the 65th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday blasted a performance by Sam Smith and Kim Petras as “demonic” for its portrayal of Satan.
The pair, who won the 2023 Grammy award for the best pop duo/group performance for the song “Unholy” performed against a backdrop of fire and red lights wearing devilish costumes.
Smith donned a hat with horns and, at one point in the performance, became encircled by dancers using “props that had allusions to BDSM themes,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. The song “praises Balenciaga,” noted social media influencer Ian Miles Cheong in a tweet that contained a screenshot of the song’s lyrics.
In the song Sam Smith is singing in the clip above, Unholy, he praises Balenciaga. pic.twitter.com/F3gVhNakRj
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) February 6, 2023
Petras, who is a biological male, noted after the highly controversial performance, “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 then slowly realizing it doesn’t want me to be a part of it,” Petras added. “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, you know, as a trans person, I’m kind of already not wanted in religion.”
Needless to say, the performance was widely panned on social media as having gone too far.
“I know we on the right probably use the word satanic too often but this performance from Sam Smith is literally a tribute to Satan,” Ben Kew, a writer, tweeted.
Political commentator Liz Wheeler, formerly of One America News, added, “Don’t fight the culture wars, they say. Meanwhile demons are teaching your kids to worship Satan. I could throw up.”
Commentator Robby Starbuck added: “People like Sam Smith who love to mock Christianity and use Satanic themes always think they’re super edgy artists by doing it. In reality it’s not edgy. It’s boring, vile, rehashed shock tactics that Hollywood seals clap for because they’re evil & stupid.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene noted: “The Grammy’s featured Sam Smith’s demonic performance and was sponsored by Pfizer. And the Satanic Church now has an abortion clinic in NM that requires its patients to perform a satanic ritual before services. American Christians need to get to work.”
The DC Draino account wrote: “Hollywood’s demonic praise of Satan brought to you by Pfizer. Literally.”
Graham Allen said: “It only makes sense for the Grammies to have a demonic concert sponsored by Pfizer!”
