Shaheer Ahmed
As if people weren’t mad enough at the results of the 2023 Grammys, now conservatives are fired up over two performers wearing devil costumes during the annual telecast. During the ceremony on Sunday, Sam Smith and Kim Petras offered a rousing performance of their hit single “Unholy,” in which Petras performed alongside drag stars Violet Chachki and Gottmik dressed in devil costumes, while Smith was in bright red top hat with devil horns sticking out from it for the final chorus.
Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ horror movie-inspired rendition of “Unholy” topped their “Saturday Night Live” performance. Smith began the song in red leather with a fleet of dancers that resembled Samara from “The Ring,” then transitioned to Petras dancing in a cage with several dominatrices wearing demonic paraphernalia. As the stage burned, Smith wore a devilish top hat.
Petras delivered an emotional remark after Smith and Petras won the Grammy for best pop duo/group performance.
“Sam kindly wanted me to take this award since I’m the first transgender woman to win this honour,” she remarked to shouts and a standing ovation from numerous artists. “I want to thank all the wonderful transgender icons that knocked these doors open before me so I could be here today. Sophie, who died two years ago and always believed in me. Sophie, thanks for inspiring me. I love you, and your music will always inspire me.” Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ horror movie-inspired rendition of “Unholy” topped their “Saturday Night Live” performance. Smith began the song in red leather with a fleet of dancers like Samara from “The Ring,” then moved to Petras dancing in a cage with several dominatrices wearing demonic paraphernalia. As the stage burned, Smith wore a devilish top hat.
Petras delivered an emotional remark after Smith and Petras won the Grammy for best pop duo/group performance.
“Sam graciously wanted me to accept this award because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award,” she said, to cheers and many of the musicians in the crowd giving her a standing ovation. “I just want to thank all of the incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open before me so I could be here tonight. Sophie, my friend who passed away two years ago, told me this would happen and always believed in me. Thank you so much for your inspiration, Sophie. I adore you, and your inspiration will forever be in my music.”
Eventually, right-wing senator Ted Cruz decided to weigh in. Retweeting a video of the performance captured by conservative podcaster Liz Wheeler (who wrote that “demons are teaching your kids to worship Satan”), Cruz simply wrote, “This…is…evil.”
This…is…evil. https://t.co/SBrOgHfFcX
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 6, 2023
Neither Smith nor Petras has publicly responded to the backlash yet. Billboard has reached out to their reps for comment.
The pair took home the Grammy award for best pop duo/group performance, and Smith gave Petras the stage to celebrate being the first transgender woman to win in the category. “I just want to thank all the incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open for me so I could be here tonight,” she said during her speech, especially thanking the late SOPHIE for her constant support. “Everyone who believed in me to this point, I love you so much.”
