Sam Smith and Kim Petras' devilishly provocative performance of their hit Unholy at the 2023 Grammys has sparked numerous complaints to the FCC.
via Complex:
As a result, numerous people have filed complaints against CBS and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), with TMZ reporting that most of the offended parties claim the performance doubled as satanic worship.
“It was wrought with evil imagery, and depicted DEVIL WORSHIPING ACOLYTES writhing around on the floor virtually naked, and in CAGES. It was broadcast on live television, and I cannot believe that CBS allowed it,” one person wrote.
Another person took their displeasure to the extreme, writing, “I will be canceling my television service due to this.”
Fresh off the performance last Sunday, Petras defended her and Smith’s creative decisions, saying the stage was inspired by not feeling accepted by religion.
“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,” she said, per Variety. “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.”
I still can't believe in 2023 people are still using their rotary phones to complain about a performance that made them uncomfortable. Compared to much raunchier performances I've seen over the years, Sam's and Kim's performances were quite tame.
We know the real reason why those people were complaining.
I find it quite hilarious that homophobic uber-religious bigots love to preach to the gays that they're going to hell for having same-sex attractions or changing their gender. But when queer artists such as Lil Nas X and Sam Smith throw their rhetoric back in their face through their artistic expression they can't take it.
In my opinion I thought their Unholy performance at the BRIT Awards last night was way better.
You can catch their BRIT performance below...