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The song’s performance at the 2023 Grammy Awards became a cultural lightning rod. Dressed in red leather and devil horns, Smith and Petras delivered a "hell-themed" show that sparked intense backlash from conservative figures who labeled it "evil" or "demonic". However, this controversy did not diminish the song's historic significance:
: The song represents a transition from "masters of pain" to a space of "emotional, sexual, and spiritual liberation". Sam Smith Unholy Ft. Kim Petras
: Smith noted that for many queer people, joy is a "dangerous place," and stepping into it requires courage. The song’s performance at the 2023 Grammy Awards
For Sam Smith, "Unholy" was more than a stylistic change; they described the recording process as an of their previous musical identity. : Smith noted that for many queer people,
The lyrics tell a story of a husband leading a double life, frequenting a strip club—the "Body Shop"—while his "mummy" and children remain at home. Smith acts as the "town gossip," detailing the affair with a sense of mischief rather than judgment, while Petras embodies the unapologetic "other woman" who demands luxury brands like Fendi and Balenciaga in exchange for her company. Queer Joy as an "Exorcism"