Paris Jackson goes for the jugular and calls Joseph Fiennes’ casting a “shameful portrayal” of her late father Michael Jackson, in an upcoming made-for-TV movie.
In fact, according to the celebrity daughter, the thought alone “honestly makes me want to vomit,” she tweeted. Shortly after the first trailer of Fiennes’ portrayal of Jackson was released earlier this week, the moel was asked by fans to sound off with her thoughts.
“I’m so incredibly offended by it, as I’m sure plenty of people are as well,” the 18-year-old, responded. “It angers me to see how obviously intentional it was for them to be this insulting, not just toward my father, but my godmother Liz as well,” she continued.
“Where is the respect? They worked through blood sweat and tears for ages to create such profound and remarkable legacies. Shameful portrayal,” she wrote. “He made a point of it plenty of times to express his pride in his roots. He would never have wanted this.”
Paris’ cousin Taj, who is the son of Michael’s brother Tito Jackson, also tweeted his reaction. “Unfortunately this is what my family has to deal with. No words could express the blatant disrespect,” he wrote.
As previously reported, in January 2016, Fiennes, a White British actor, was cast as the music icon for production company Sky Arts’ special, “Urban Myths” — based on an alleged road trip Jackson took with Elizabeth Taylor (played by Stockard Channing) and Marlon Brando after flights were grounded in the wake of the Sept.11 terrorist attacks of 2001.
As for their decision to cast a White actor in the role of Jackson, Sky Arts previously told People in a statement: “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.”
Meanwhile, Fiennes defended his role, telling Rolling Stone, “I deal in imagination, so I don’t think imagination should have rules stamped on them.”
“Urban Myths” is set to air on Jan. 19 on Sky Arts. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on Fiennes’ role in the comment section below.
