Network cancels episode that featured white actor, Joseph Fiennes, as Michael Jackson.
British network Sky Arts has canceled the controversial episode of its upcoming TV series featuring Joseph Fiennes acting job as the late pop star Michael Jackson.
The decision comes only a day after Michael Jackson’s 18-year-old daughter Paris spoke out about the show’s first trailer, calling it “insulting” and “shameful” after the white actor was cast as Jackson, who was African American.
Urban Myths is an eight-part series recreating rumored stories about celebrities. Fiennes performance as Michael Jackson came in the episode titled “Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon” and the story of an alleged road trip that Jackson took with Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando after flights were grounded after September 11th terrorist attacks of 2001.
“We have taken the decision not to broadcast ‘Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon,’ a 30 minute episode from the Sky Arts Urban Myths series,” Sky Arts wrote in a series of tweets on Friday. “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.”
What do you think? Discuss this story with fellow Project Casting fans on Facebook. On Twitter, follow us at @projectcasting.
