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Conservative Twitter was up in arms over singer Sam Smith's performance of their song "Unholy" at the Grammy Awards over the weekend, with many decrying it as an example of "evil" and the purported "Satanism" they say is thriving in Hollywood and among the "global elite."
"Unholy"—a duo with German singer Kim Petras—is the second single from Smith's fourth studio album Gloria and won the award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, the first time either nonbinary or transgender performers won the coveted prize.
But there was one group that didn't seem happy with the historic feat, let alone Smith's performance while decked out in a satanic top hat as Petras danced in a cage flanked by dominatrixes.
You can see the Grammy performance below.
Indeed, many conservatives have—to put it simply—totally freaked out.
\u201cSam Smith\u2019s Satanic #GRAMMYS performance was shockingly dark & vile\n\nI see lots of Christians & Conservatives saying \u201cI don\u2019t watch,\u201d or \u201cwho cares\u201d\n\nSure, don\u2019t waste your time watching. I didn\u2019t either. But we should all care about this blatant evil\u2026\u201d— Karoline Leavitt (@Karoline Leavitt) 1675704338
\u201cPeople like Sam Smith who love to mock Christianity and use Satanic themes always think they\u2019re super edgy artists by doing it. In reality it\u2019s not edgy. It\u2019s boring, vile, rehashed shock tactics that Hollywood seals clap for because they\u2019re evil & stupid.\u201d— Robby Starbuck (@Robby Starbuck) 1675657902
\u201cThe Devil. Brought to you by Pfizer\u2026https://t.co/RS6ZYrsbAF\u201d— Charlie Kirk (@Charlie Kirk) 1675657334
\u201cIt's not surprising to see a satanic ritual at the Grammy's. Satanism is the worship of the self. Much of modern pop music is satanic in this sense. Leftism is satanism. The only change is that now they're being more explicit about it.\u201d— Matt Walsh (@Matt Walsh) 1675704756
\u201cNobody:\n\nEvery forgotten singer who wants to be popular again: \u201cTime to break out Satan.\u201d\u201d— Greg Price (@Greg Price) 1675654153
However, many others pushed back against conservative criticisms of Smith's performance.
\u201cThe only things that's truly evil and #Unholy about this whole thing is the continued rhetoric to push one's faith and religion on others. \n\nGet a grip.\n\n#Grammys\n\nhttps://t.co/gbIbobe4Fe\u201d— Tony Morrison (@Tony Morrison) 1675714323
\u201c\ud83d\ude06\ud83e\udd23\ud83d\ude06 I love the fact that right wingers/MAGAs are triggered that Sam Smith, trans singer Kim Petras and drag performers Gottmik & Violet Chachki performed Grammy winning \u201cUnholy\u201d tonight!! The balloon thing is over, they needed something.\ud83e\udd2a #GRAMMYs\u201d— Laurie\ud83d\udc79 (@Laurie\ud83d\udc79) 1675679166
\u201cTed Cruz said Sam Smith's GRAMMYs performance of "Unholy" was "EVIL":\n\nEvil is when a man walks into a school & murders a dozen children\n\nEvil is when Russia bombs schools & hospitals to steal land\n\nEvil is NOT when a musician dances around in a devil suit performing a hit song.\u201d— Brian Krassenstein (@Brian Krassenstein) 1675691951
\u201cThere is nothing more entertaining than watching as #headsexplode on the #rightwingnut Conservatives over the Sam Smith/Kim Petras #GRAMMYs performance. #COULDITBESATAN Someone call the Church Lady, please. \nhttps://t.co/8CiMJ1j5b2\u201d— Ed Berliner (@Ed Berliner) 1675708539
\u201cSounds like Ted Cruz and GOP are the real snowflakes.\u201d— Dapper Diner (@Dapper Diner) 1675711322
\u201cConservatives freaking out over Sam Smith \u201cUnholy\u201d at the Grammys calling it Satan Worship, yet these people worship Trump, Alex Jones, DeathSantis and the likes. Sam Smith is a performer who hurts no one. The other guys are flat out cult leaders who hurt everyone.\n\n#BlueVoices\u201d— Alejandro\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf39\ud83c\udf3b\ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udc40\ud83c\udf0e\u2744\ufe0f\ud83e\udd43\ud83e\udd42\ud83e\uddc9\ud83c\udf08 (@Alejandro\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf39\ud83c\udf3b\ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udc40\ud83c\udf0e\u2744\ufe0f\ud83e\udd43\ud83e\udd42\ud83e\uddc9\ud83c\udf08) 1675720765
Petras later told reporters the "Unholy" performance was a commentary on “not being able to choose religion," adding:
“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.”
Smith is no stranger to criticims from conservatives.
The nonbinary singer was their target as recently as last week.
Fans stepped up to support Smith after the racy video for "I'm Not Here to Make Friends"—the fourth single from Gloria—was criticized by conservatives who complained it showed the unapologetically nonbinary singer wearing a corset and nipple tassels while performing with backup dancers.
Critics said the video was "over-sexualized" and expresssed their discomfort over Smith openly embracing the feminine aspects of their nonbinary identity.