Sam Smith Unholy Ft. Kim Petras < Firefox >

: Smith noted that for many queer people, joy is a "dangerous place," and stepping into it requires courage.

: The song represents a transition from "masters of pain" to a space of "emotional, sexual, and spiritual liberation". Sam Smith Unholy Ft. Kim Petras

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: : Smith noted that for many queer people,

For Sam Smith, "Unholy" was more than a stylistic change; they described the recording process as an of their previous musical identity. Dressed in red leather and devil horns, Smith

: By embracing a raunchier, more provocative persona, Smith moved toward a more authentic queer self that refused to be "presentable" for a heteronormative audience. Cultural Impact and Historic Milestones