CBS could be fined over Sam Smith and Kim Petras' controversial Grammys performance last week following dozens of complaints, it has been reported
The pair had taken to the stage to sing their collaboration 'Unholy' (which charted at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in October) at the star-studded 65th Grammy awards ceremony this year, for which they had won an award for Best Pop Duo.
Soon afterward, the performance was slammed on social media, with multiple people deeming it "satanic" - given that Petras and Smith, both 30, sported blood-red outfits and were enveloped by backup dancers dressed as the Devil. Smith even donned a red top hat complete with horns.
Despite the fallout - which saw CBS and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) receive 18 complaints following the performance - the Church of Satan responded, claiming that what Smith and Petras tried to achieve was "nothing particularly special", especially because the Satanic imagery was "kind of passé" now.
US Senator Ted Cruz was particularly horrified by the performance, taking to Twitter to voice his disgust. "This is… evil," he wrote in response to commentator Liz Wheeler's post that read: "Don’t fight the culture wars, they say. Meanwhile, demons are teaching your kids to worship Satan. I could throw up."
Fellow politician Jack Lombardi II agreed, adding underneath: "The greatest act the Devil ever pulled was to convince the world he doesn't exist - and now he hides in plain sight."
While introducing the pair ahead of their unique performance, pop legend Madonna told the crowd: "Here's what I've learned after four decades in music. If they call you shocking, scandalous, troublesome, problematic, provocative, or dangerous, you are definitely onto something," per The Independent.
As for the complaints, however, they could land CBS in hot water. In fact, The Daily Mail revealed that networks have been fined hundreds of thousands of dollars following the airing of "obscene material". According to them, it's a violation of federal law to air obscene programming at any time and a violation of federal law to broadcast indecent or profane programming during certain hours.
In 2004, CBS was fined a whopping $500,000 by the FCC after Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson's Super Bowl performance after her bare breast was exposed during the performance (which may or may not have been an accident).
One of the complaints sent to the FCC (and obtained by TMZ) read: "I will be canceling my television service due to this," while another said: "'It was wrought with evil imagery, and depicted DEVIL WORSHIPING 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."
Petras has since spoken out amid the backlash, telling reporters (via The Daily Mail): "I think a lot of people, honestly, have kind of labeled what I stand for and what Sam stands for as religiously not cool, 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 hell keeper Kim," she added.