Ali Condon
Sam Smith and Kim Petras are cleaning up this awards season, thanks to their number one song 'Unholy'.
At last week's Grammy Awards, the pair walked home with the award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance - as well as over a dozen FCC complaints.
Sam and Kim performed their chart-topping hit at the coveted ceremony, complete with Sam wearing a top hat and horns, Kim locked in a cage, and dancers contorting themselves in devil-like costumes.
But the explosive act didn't go down well with everybody, it seems.
Advert
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has confirmed that, since the awards aired on TV, they had received 18 complaints about 'Unholy'.
Those who filed complaints seemed to feel like the performance was 'glorifying' Satan and promoting anti-Christian values.
There's no denying that the overall theme was inspired by some sort of hellish underworld, with flames burning around the stage, horned dancers holding whips, and red lighting, but some of these complaints really are extreme.
In FCC complaints seen by TMZ, one person threatened that they would be 'cancelling [their] television service due to this'.
Advert
Another boldly claimed that the song would 'increase violence against Christians.'
A third penned: "It was wrought with evil imagery, and depicted DEVIL WORSHIPPING 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 UNEDITED and with possibly children watching."
Complainants are calling for the FCC to take action against Sam Smith, Kim Petras, CBS, and anyone else involved in the performance.
.png)
Viewers also complained about the performance on the night of, broadcasting their criticisms to Twitter rather than filing them with the FCC.
Advert
"Let me know when it's safe to turn back to CBS," tweeted one viewer on the night, "I refuse to watch Sam Smith and his Satanic ritual."
Another wrote: "Grammys is just pure devil worship. Just flipped over to it, and Sam Smith was basically doing Satanic crap on stage...It’s all so effin gross and disgusting."
Unsurprisingly, Senator Ted Cruz was among those horrified viewers, posting a rather dramatic tweet during the live performance that simply read: "This... is... evil."
Almost immediately after the performance, though, Kim Petras explained what her and Sam's performance was really about - and no, it's not devil worship.
"I think a lot of people, honestly, have kind of labeled what I stand for and what Sam stands for as religiously not cool," she told Variety.
Advert
"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."
So, maybe we should all take a deep breath and consider what was really important about Kim and Sam's Grammy's appearance.
Advert
Despite the backlash, Kim and Sam took home a Grammy Award on the night, and made history.
During their emotional acceptance speech, Kim shared: “I’m the first transgender woman to win this award. I want to thank all the incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open."