Explicit satanic performance imagery, LGBT advocacy, anti-Christian themes throughout.
Sam Smith's performance of "Unholy" at the 2023 Grammy Awards became one of the most discussed entertainment moments in recent Christian discourse. Dressed in a red devil costume, surrounded by dancers in similarly devil-coded outfits, and performing choreography explicitly designed to evoke a Satanic ritual, Smith delivered a performance on one of entertainment's most prominent stages that left little room for ambiguity about its spiritual messaging. This was not an accident or misinterpretation. The visual design, the costume, the staging, the smoke effects, and the choreography were all deliberate choices made by a professional entertainment operation. The question for Christians is what to make of it.
Sam Smith (who uses they/them pronouns) came to prominence with emotionally powerful ballads like "Stay With Me" and "Writing's on the Wall." Their more recent work has leaned increasingly into LGBT advocacy and, with the Unholy era, into explicitly transgressive and dark imagery. "Unholy" is a song about infidelity and sexual immorality — the title itself frames what it is describing. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says "do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit... You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." The "Unholy" Grammy performance presented the exact opposite of this teaching as aesthetically beautiful, culturally celebrated, and award-worthy.
Sam Smith's 2023 performance is not an isolated incident but part of a pattern. Lil Nas X performed sexual acts on a Satan figure in his music video and sold "Satan Shoes." Lady Gaga has incorporated demonic imagery across two decades. The Grammys have become a venue that consistently platforms explicitly Satanic and anti-Christian imagery in ways that would be unthinkable if directed at any other religion. Ephesians 5:11 says to "have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." Naming what these performances represent — not as conspiracy theory but as observable fact — is an act of Christian faithfulness.
Sam Smith scores 6/100. Their recent music combines explicit sexual content, LGBT advocacy, and now explicitly Satanic performance imagery. Christians should avoid their music. The Grammy performance should serve as a data point about the current direction of mainstream entertainment, not an isolated scandal.
Personal faith and musical content are distinct categories that frequently diverge. GodlyScore evaluates both separately. Key questions: What are the lyrics saying? What worldview do they reflect? Are they consistent with Philippians 4:8 — "whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable"? Score: see full guide.
Engage with specific songs rather than evaluating the artist's name alone. Content varies significantly across albums. See our Christian Musicians hub. The Gospel Coalition provides thoughtful analysis of faith and culture.