Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz denounced a Satanic-themed performance at the Grammy Awards in a tweet overnight Sunday into Monday.
The senator was responding to the performance by Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ of the duet, “Unholy,” which won a grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group performance. In a hell-depicted scene, Smith wore a devil-horned top hat and Petras performed inside a cage surrounded by horned people in red bondage gear. Flames were featured on the screen behind them.
“This…is…evil,” Cruz said in response to conservative commentator Liz Wheeler’s tweet.
This…is…evil. https://t.co/SBrOgHfFcX
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 6, 2023
Petras, a biological male, identifies as a transgender woman and Smith is reportedly the first artist to identify as “non-binary,” according to Business Insider. (RELATED: Megan Fox Stirs Up Fan Curiosity After Arriving To Grammys With Pink Cast And Concussion)
Republican Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) speaks during a press conference after Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed by the Senate as the 115th justice to the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill, October 26, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Like Cruz, several social media users lamented the “demonic” performance and accused it of honoring Satan. Several people expressed frustration over musical artists referencing the devil in their songs and performances.
“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,” Human Events editor Ben Kew said.
I know we on the right probably use the word satanic too often but this peformance from Sam Smith is literally a tribute to Satan. pic.twitter.com/1GrNgjssZN
— Ben Kew 🐶 (@ben_kew) February 6, 2023
Nobody:
Every forgotten singer who wants to be popular again: “Time to break out Satan.” https://t.co/TfUftzopeE
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 6, 2023
Wait till you find out what happens when the kids play their Judas Priest records backwards https://t.co/32wwapZMJ5
— Brandon Friedman (@BFriedmanDC) February 6, 2023
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: (L-R) Sam Petras and Sam Smith winners of Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Unholy” pose in the press room during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Sam Smith performs onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Sam Smith performs onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Grammys host Trevor Noah joked that the demonic symbols would enrage many viewers and pretended to be on the phone with his mother to assure her that the actual devil did not perform onstage.
“No, mom, it wasn’t the actual devil … Yeah, you did warn me about Hollywood,” he said.