Sam Smith gave the floor to collaborator Kim Petras as the pair celebrated her as the first transgender woman to win best pop duo/group performance at the Grammys.
Their chart-topping collaboration Unholy claimed the gong on Sunday night and German singer Petras thanked the other transgender performers who came before her.
“Sam, I love you so much and this song has been an incredible journey for me,” she said after they took the stage.
“Sam wanted me to accept this award because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award,” she said, to a standing ovation from sections of the audience.
Petras also thanked the “transgender legends” who opened “the doors”.
She also mentioned Madonna, saying “I don’t think I could be here without Madonna”, and her mother, as she accepted the gong at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The pair later took to the stage to perform Unholy live, after an introduction by Madonna herself, who hailed the “rebels out there” while brandishing a whip.
Smith wore a hat with devil horns and Petras played in a cage and both wore purple tracksuits.
Earlier in the night the duo drew attention on the red carpet in matching red ensembles.
Smith wore a floor-length scarlet coat with an oversized collar and paired it with a top hat and cane, while Petras opted for a mini dress and matching red heels.
They were also joined by Gottmik and Violet Chachki, from RuPaul’s Drag Race, who appeared in their music video.
It’s been a successful week for Smith after the singer, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, scored her third number one with Gloria.
They have previously said that the album “feels like coming of age” and has helped them “through some dark times”.
Gloria has attracted mixed reviews with the NME giving it four stars and calling it “the most wonderful, satisfying and important work of their career”, while The Times offered only two and argued that it was too often Smith resorts to “cliche” to tell his story. story.
The Stay With Me singer also sparked online backlash this week after releasing the risque music video for recent single I’m Not Here To Make Friends, in which they wore a corset and nipple tassels while performing a suggestive routine with scantily clad dancers.
The video has been criticized by some as oversexualised, and the singer’s fans have said that they are a victim of double standards for being queer and plus size.