Singers Sam Smith and biological male transgender “woman” Kim Petras won the Grammy for Best Pop Duo for their song “Unholy” – which they also performed – at Sunday night’s Grammy Awards.
The song featured Smith wearing a red costume and horns, as well as BDSM allusions, such as Petras locked in a cage, explains The Hollywood Reporter:
“Surrounded by a monochromatic wash of red lights and in front of a backdrop of fire, Smith opened up the song, encircled by dancers, wearing an ensemble and working with props that had allusions to BDSM themes. Halfway through the song, Smith added a horned hat to his look.
“Petras sang her section from inside a cage on stage, and wore a red leather mini-dress with her signature long, blonde hair.”
Interviewed after the performance Petras explained his aversion to religion:
“Petras, who is a biological male, said after the 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 continued. ‘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.’”
In his acceptance speech, Petras claimed to be the first trans woman to win in the category and thanked his mother for her support and for believing that he was a girl:
“My mother believed me that I was a girl. And, I wouldn’t be here without her and her support.”
“Viewers of the 65th Annual Grammy Awards slammed a performance on Sunday by Sam Smith and Kim Petras as ‘demonic over its satanic theme,’” The Daily Wire reports, noting one writer’s reaction:
“’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,’ writer Ben Kew tweeted.”
A link to a list of 2023 sponsors on the Grammy Awards website is provided here. While Pfizer is not listed on the page, a company spokesperson confirmed to Newsweek that it is an official sponsor: "We sponsored the overall Grammy's event, not any particular performance. Beyond that, we don't comment on our efforts to raise awareness."
Additionally, as the song concludes, Pfizer claims credit for sponsoring the Grammy Awards.
America, THE STATE OF THE DEMONIC LEFT IN 30 SECONDS.
— Ada Lluch 🇪🇸 (@ada_lluch) February 6, 2023
Watch till the end. They do not even try to hide it. #GRAMMYs #Grammys2023 pic.twitter.com/uCjNMFrd9v