Popโ Starsโฃ Spark Controversy withโ Religious โImagery,โ Leading to Backlash and Investigations
new York, NYโข – A series of incidents involving prominent musiciansโข utilizing โคreligious settings andโ symbolism in their work has ignitedโค controversy, prompting legal action, apologies, and even financial investigations. Lil Nas X, MSCHF, and Sabrina Carpenter have each faced criticism for โฃprojects perceived asโ disrespectful or exploitative โคofโข Christian faith.
The disputes began with Lilโข Nas โคX’s โข2021 release ofโ “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” โคand the accompanyingโ Satan Shoes, a collaboration with MSCHF featuring a drop of human blood.nike filed a โฃcomplaint against MSCHF for trademark infringement, resultingโ inโค aโ court orderโ halting sales and a recall of the shoes. in โ2024, Lil Nas X released the song J Christ, immediately drawing condemnation from some โคevangelical groups who accused him of desecrating Jesus. Lilโข Nas X later stated he “poorly managed” the promotion, clarifying the title was intended as aโฃ metaphor for rebirth, thoughโ the controversyโ overshadowed theโ song’s queer themes.
More recently,Sabrina carpenter’s musicโข video โขfor “Feather,” released in October 2023,sparked outrage after being filmed without theโข knowledge of the priestโ at the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Brooklyn. The video โfeatures โCarpenter โdancing in aโ church โคamongst pastel coffins, โขrepresentingโ abusers. โFather Jamie J. Gigantiello publicly โapologized and was subsequently โฃsuspended by the Diocese of Brooklyn. A year โขlater, Gigantiello faced accusations of embezzling funds. โCarpenter responded toโ the criticism with aโฃ lighthearted remark,stating,”Jesus wasโข a carpenter.”
These incidents highlight a growing tension between artistic expression,โฃ religious sensitivity, and theโฃ use ofโฃ sacred spaces for commercial or artistic purposes. The controversies continue to fuel debateโ about the โฃboundariesโข of creative โคfreedom and the responsibility of artists when engaging with religious themes.
