Network pulls Joseph Fiennes' Michael Jackson portrayal
LONDON -- With less than a week to go before the release of new comedy Urban Myths, Sky has announced that the controversial "Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon" episode has been pulled.
The casting of Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson was the subject of heavy criticism when it was initially announced. The decision to pull the episode comes just days after Jackson's daughter Paris tweeted to say she was "incredibly offended" by the portrayal and that it made her "want to vomit."
A spokesperson for Sky arts sent the following statement to Mashable:
“We have taken the decision not to broadcast Elizabeth, Michael 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. We set out to take a light-hearted look at reportedly true events and never intended to cause any offence. Joseph Fiennes fully supports our decision.”
Controversy over the casting choice began in January 2016 when the news broke that Fiennes would be playing Jackson in the episode, which revolved around a rumoured road-trip taken by Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando after 9/11.
At the time, Sky Arts sent Mashable the following statement:
"Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon is a Sky Arts comedy which takes a light hearted look at a reportedly true event; Joseph Fiennes is cast as Michael Jackson. 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."
Earlier this week, anger over the casting decision was reignited when Sky published a trailer showing the first glimpse of Fiennes as Jackson.
After the trailer attracted negative attention from Paris Jackson on Twitter, Mashable reached out to Sky Arts and received the following, similar statement:
"'Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon' is part of the Sky Arts Urban Myths season which is a series of comedies that takes a light hearted look at unlikely stories involving a range of cultural and historical figures. Sky Arts puts the integrity of the creative vision at the heart of all of its original commissions and casting decisions are made within the overall diversity framework which we have set."
Just two days later, however, the news broke that Sky Arts had reversed their decision. They would no longer be broadcasting the episode.
A spokesperson for Sky Arts told Mashable that it was a collective decision taken across the team at Sky, but that they wouldn't comment on internal processes.
Mashable has reached out to Joseph Fiennes' publicist for comment.
UPDATE: Jan. 13, 2017, 1:06 p.m. GMT The introduction of the story was updated to clarify that Urban Myths will be starting next week; the "Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon" episode was due to go out later in the year, however.
