'Urban Myths' episode with Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson axed
Sky Arts, the U.K. broadcaster behind the series Urban Myths, will not air the episode "Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon" with Joseph Fiennes after backlash from the family of Michael Jackson.
The first trailer for the episode was released Wednesday and was met with swift blowback criticizing the series' choice of a white actor playing the African-American singer. By Friday, it had been consigned to the digital dustbin.
Urban Myths , a show somewhat akin to Comedy Central's Drunk History, takes "a slightly tongue in cheek, mischievous – and deliberately ambiguous – look at what might have happened" in famous tales of celebrity folklore.
As is the case with Drunk History, it features famous actors playing the figures involved.
The episode titled "Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon," centers on a supposed road trip Jackson took with Elizabeth Taylor (Stockard Channing) and Marlon Brando (Brian Cox) took while fleeing post-9/11 New York. With all civilian air travel grounded, they set off in a rental car together, "reflecting on their lives, loves, careers and egos as they go."
On Thursday, Jackson's daughter, Paris, expressed her strong opposition to the project on Twitter.
"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," she wrote.
Michael Jackson's nephew, Taj Jackson, also protested Fiennes' casting on Twitter.
"Unfortunately, this is what my family has to deal with. No words could express the blatant disrespect."
In a tweet, the broadcaster said it has taken the decision not to air the episode "in light of the concerns expressed by Michael Jackson's immediate family." They noted that Fiennes supported the decision.
After the decision was made, they both issued follow-up tweets to their followers.
"Thanks to everyone who made their voices heard," Taj said. "As I said it wasn't comedy, it was mockery with no taste. A great victory for his legacy!"
"I'm surprised the family's feelings were actually taken into consideration for once," Paris wrote. "We all really do appreciate it more than y'all know."
In a 1993 TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, the singer, who died in 2009, once shared his feelings about potentially being played by a white actor after stories circulated that a Caucasian child would play him in a Pepsi commercial.
"That's the most ridiculous, horrifying story I've ever heard," he responded. "It's crazy. Why would I want a white child to play me? I'm a black American. I am proud to be a black American. I am proud of my race. I am proud of who I am.” (Skip to 23:48 to watch that portion of the interview.)