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Paris Jackson Feels Incredibly Offended By Joseph Fiennes' Portrayal Of Michael Jackson

Paris Jackson Feels Incredibly Offended By Joseph Fiennes' Portrayal Of Michael Jackson

Shena Golosino

Paris Jackson, daughter of the late pop legend Michael Jackson, has slammed Joseph Fiennes' portrayal of her father in a trailer for Sky Arts' upcoming comedy series "Urban Myths: A Brand New Collection of Comedies," subtitled as "True ... ish Stories."

Sky Arts' Urban Myths is a comedy series that recreates "rumored" tales about celebrities. The upcoming episode, "Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon," is based on an urban legend documented in a Vanity Fair article in 2011. The legend claims that Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando went on a road trip in New York City using a rental car in the wake of 9/11. Rolling Stone reported that Jackson will be portrayed by Joseph Fiennes, Taylor by Stockard Channing and Brando by Brian Cox.

According to NME, after the episode's trailer was released on January 11, a petition has been launched to boycott Urban Myths because they casted a white actor as Michael Jackson. Rolling Stone reported that MJCast, a Michael Jackson podcast, headed the call to boycott the show and even asked Paris Jackson, about her thoughts on the trailer.

"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," Paris replied. She was also angered by the fact that the episode intends to be insulting not just her father but also her godmother Elizabeth Taylor.

"Where is the respect?" "They worked through blood, sweat and tears for ages to create such profound and remarkable legacies. Shameful portrayal," she added.

NME reported that when the episode was announced, some commentators already criticized the show's decision to cast Fiennes, a white actor, to portray the late black pop icon but he insisted he is an appropriate choice to portray Jackson.

Author Julia Rodriguez also stated that the casting was "incredibly disrespectful" and casting a white actor to portray him "erases and minimizes" the real struggles he went through during his early career as a Black performer. Rodriguez also stated that developing a skin condition or being light-skinned does not make the people of color lose their ethnicity, culture and family history.

"Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon" will air as part of Urban Myths, which begins on Sky Arts on January 19.

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