The History Of Satan Worship At The Grammys

Summary

The video argues that satanic imagery at the Grammys reflects a wider cultural acceptance of rebellion against Christianity and moral restraint. It focuses first on Sam Smith and Kim Petras’s 2023 performance, which featured devil horns, flames, a cage, and kneeling dancers. The presenters interpret the staging—and a since-deleted CBS tweet saying “we are ready to worship”—as satanic.

In an interview excerpt, Petras describes the performance as a response to feeling excluded from religion as a transgender person. The video rejects that explanation and presents the performance as part of a broader normalization of Satanism and other beliefs it considers anti-Christian.

Historical and cultural context

To explain this perceived cultural shift, the narrator points to ideas of self-expression and rebellion in works by John Milton and William Blake, and later in the writings of Aleister Crowley and Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey. The video claims that Crowley and LaVey believed in a literal Satan, despite LaVey’s public presentation of Satanism as symbolic. It supports this claim with quotations and an account attributed to former Manson family member Susan Atkins, relayed by Joe Schimmel. These historical interpretations and allegations are presented by the video as evidence, rather than established independently in the subtitles.

The narrator also cites earlier Grammy performances as examples: Nicki Minaj’s 2012 mock exorcism, Katy Perry’s 2014 “Dark Horse” staging, and Madonna and AC/DC’s 2015 performances. The video characterizes these as satanic or occult displays. It further argues that Madonna’s comments celebrating “rebels” and her past statements about challenging sexual norms show how celebrity culture can make once-taboo behavior seem ordinary.

The video’s moral and religious critique

The video interprets “Unholy” as a song about adultery and criticizes Sam Smith and Petras for performing it. It also condemns what it describes as the artists’ celebration of Satanism, transgender identity, and homosexuality, and criticizes parents who accept the song’s lyrics. These judgments reflect the video’s conservative Christian viewpoint.

In its conclusion, the narrator urges Christians not to respond with despair, but to remain faithful to Scripture and to regard lawlessness as a sign of the times. The video ends with an evangelical appeal: turn from sin, put faith in Jesus Christ, and seek forgiveness through his death on the cross.

Presenters and contributors

• Presenter: Unidentified narrator; no name is given in the subtitles.
• Featured or discussed figures: Kim Petras, Sam Smith, Trevor Noah, Madonna, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, AC/DC, Aleister Crowley, Anton LaVey, Susan Atkins, and Joe Schimmel.