Celebrity News January 13, 2017
Joseph Fiennes’ Michael Jackson Episode Canceled Amid Controversy
After Paris Jackson voiced some outrage over Joseph Fiennes' portrayal of her dad Michael Jackson in “Urban Myths,” the TV network decided to pull the plug on the episode.
In a statement, British network Sky Arts said on Twitter, "We have taken the decision not to broadcast 'Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon,' a 30 minute episode from the Sky Arts Urban Myths series. This decision was taken in light of the concerns expressed by Michael Jackson's immediate family. We set out to take a light-hearted look at reportedly true events & never intended to cause any offense. Joseph Fiennes fully supports our decision.”
The decision came just days after the first trailer for the episode aired, which featured Fiennes as Jackson. After seeing the trailer, Paris wrote, "i'm so incredibly offended by it, as i'm sure plenty of people are as well, and it honestly makes me want to vomit.”
After the episode was axed, Paris tweeted, "I'm surprised the family's feelings were actually taken into consideration for once, we all really do appreciate it more than y'all know."
Last year, Sky Arts defended Fiennes' casting, telling People magazine, "It is part of a series of comedies about unlikely stories from arts and cultural history. Sky Arts gives producers the creative freedom to cast roles as they wish, within the diversity framework which we have set.”
