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Outrage over bald, black, and queer actress from ‘Wicked’ in new role as Jesus Christ: ‘Cool. Now do Mohammed.’

February 19, 2025 | | Print Article

An upcoming production took a “Wicked” twist sparking new outrage as the left’s mockery of Christianity geared up for a trip to the Hollywood Bowl.

Along with refusals to accept religious exemptions to vaccine mandates, persecution of pro-life advocates, and the FBI’s monitoring of Catholics, pop culture paganism saw fit to mock the Last Supper more than once in recent years. Now, as the controversial production “Jesus Christ Superstar” is set for a special run in August, it was announced the lead role had been given to self-styled Roman Catholic, black, bald, and queer actress Cynthia Erivo.

Known most recently for her portrayal of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, in the film adaptation of “Wicked,” Erivo confirmed on her Instagram that she had been cast in the role of Jesus in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s musical from the perspective of Judas Iscariot for a three-day set at the Hollywood Bowl.

“Just a little busy this Summer, can’t wait,” she posted on social media as the Hollywood Bowl touted the “Emmy, Grammy, and Tony winner, and three-time Oscar nominee.”

 

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Of little surprise in an age where prominent politicians like former President Joe Biden and California Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D) professed to be Catholics while advocating for abortion and gender ideology, Erivo addressed how her “queer and Catholic identities” intersected during an interview with Elle in November.

“I have a deep belief that God makes people as they’re meant to be,” she told the magazine. “The rules for themselves that people put upon others have nothing to do with me and my faith. I can’t allow narrow thinking that some Christians or Catholics have of what faith is to affect how vast I think faith can be.”

“Faith is so big–so much bigger than set rules. As time changes, we are also meant to change. If me loving someone makes you upset, then we have to refocus,” argued Erivo in stark contrast to Catholic teaching which, among other points, noted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church when speaking of God, “He transcends the world and history,” and “God’s truth is his wisdom, which commands the whole created order and governs the world.”

Her casting in the Sergio Trujillo-directed and choreographed production comes as Christianity has repeatedly been mocked in the entertainment industry in recent years. This includes a Satan-themed Grammy performance in 2023 by Sam Smith and Kim Petras deemed “evil” the same night entertainers gathered like figures in Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper to DJ Khaled’s “God Did.”

On the world stage the following year even greater pushback followed the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with a drag queen-filled rendition of The Last Supper.

Reactions to Erivo’s casting were equally appalled as users on social media reminded that other religions were not so readily mocked with some going as far as to deem the upcoming performance “blasphemy.”

Kevin Haggerty
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