Controversial Michael Jackson ‘Urban Myths’ Segment Pulled After Intense Backlash
When Sky Arts' Urban Myths released photos of a white actor playing Michael Jackson in an upcoming episode, there was immediate controversy, and now after first-look pictures of the episode were released earlier this week, the episode won't air.
It was supposed to tell a fictitious story about the King of Pop, Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando driving from New York City to Los Angeles after the 9/11 tragedy, but once it was announced that Joseph Fiennes snagged the role, the Jackson family quickly protested.
"We have taken the decision not to broadcast Elizabeth, Micheal and Marlon, a half-hour episode from the Sky Arts Urban Myths series, in light of the concerns expressed by Michael Jackson's immediate family," someone from Sky Arts told Rolling Stone. "We set out to take a lighthearted look at reportedly true events and never intended to cause any offense."
Eventually, Fiennes also spoke out and said he looked at the role as an opportunity to tell a comedic tale and didn't want to offend but he obviously failed at that.
"This is territory that is sensitive," he told the Associated Press. "One must determine if this portrayal is one that is going to be positive entertainment, and one that will not bring about division and put anyone's noses out of joint so I went with the mind that this was a positive lighthearted comedy."
You can read some Paris Jackson's tweets below.