A Brazilian judge has ordered Netflix to stop showing the controversial Christmas movie depicting Jesus as gay. Since its release, the movie has sparked non-stop backlash, provoking Christians in the same vein. As a matter of fact, millions of people signed petitions calling for its creators to be charged with a crime.
The straw that broke the camel’s back was when the creators of the film defended it as a legitimate freedom of expression.
The ruling by Rio de Janeiro judge Benedicto Abicair on Wednesday, January 8, ordered Netflix to remove the Christmas special that some called blasphemous for depicting Jesus as a gay man.
Judge Benedicto Abicair responded to a petition by a Brazilian Catholic organization that argued the “honor of millions of Catholics” was hurt by the airing of “The First Temptation of Christ.”
The special was produced by the Rio-based film company Porta dos Fundos, whose headquarters was targeted in the Christmas Eve attack. Fortunately, no one was hurt but a video circulating days later on social media showed three men claiming responsibility for the attack.
However, movie streaming giant, Netflix told The Associated Press it would not comment on the ruling.
Porta dos Fundos also declined to comment on the judge’s decision, which contradicted an earlier decision rejecting censorship of the program. The ruling is valid until another court orders otherwise. Abicair said the program’s withdrawal “is beneficial not only to the christian community, but to Brazilian society which is mostly christian.”
“The First Temptation of Christ” depicts Jesus returning home on his 30th birthday and insinuates he is gay.