YouTube/Sky Arts
Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson in "Urban Myths."
The decision came following concerns voiced by Jackson's immediate family.
Sky Arts tweeted the following on Friday:
News that Fiennes was cast as the King of Pop was revealed last January for a project titled "Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon," which delved into the rumored story that Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Marlon Brando got in a car after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, and fled New York City to go on a road trip.
"Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon" was to be part of an episode in the "Urban Myths" series, which will also feature "true...ish" stories like Cary Grant's alleged love of LSD, and others featuring Hitler, novelist Samuel Beckett, and Bob Dylan.
Though negative reaction to Fiennes playing the role has been going on for a year now, it seems the latest slams on the episode from Jackson's nephew Taj Jackson and Jackson's daughter Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson led to the project being scrapped.
Taj Jackson tweeted:
Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson tweeted:
Sky Arts notes in its tweets that Fiennes fully supports the decision, but last year he did defend playing Jackson.
"I deal in imagination, so I don't think imagination should have rules stamped on them," Fiennes said. "If it promotes stereotyping, then it's wrong. I made a distinction that the Jackson project doesn't do that."
He added: "This is territory that is sensitive. One must determine if this portrayal is one that is going to be positive entertainment, and one that will not bring about division and put anyone's noses out of joint, so I went with the mind that this was a positive, lighthearted comedy."
@SkyArts 1/4 We have taken the decision not to broadcast Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon, a 30min episode from the Sky Arts Urban Myths series.
- Sky Arts (@SkyArts) January 13, 2017@SkyArts 2/4 This decision was taken in light of the concerns expressed by Michael Jackson's immediate family.
- Sky Arts (@SkyArts) January 13, 2017@SkyArts 3/4 We set out to take a light-hearted look at reportedly true events & never intended to cause any offence.
- Sky Arts (@SkyArts) January 13, 2017@SkyArts 4/4 Joseph Fiennes fully supports our decision.
- Sky Arts (@SkyArts) January 13, 2017@soledadobrien Unfortunately this is what my family has to deal with. No words could express the blatant disrespect. https://t.co/WKCiwOqPpN
- Taj Jackson (@tajjackson3) January 11, 2017@TheMJCast 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.
- Paris-Michael K. J. (@ParisJackson) January 11, 2017@TheMJCast it angers me to see how obviously intentional it was for them to be this insulting, not just towards my father, but my godmother liz as well
- Paris-Michael K. J. (@ParisJackson) January 11, 2017@TheMJCast where is the respect? they worked through blood sweat and tears for ages to create such profound and remarkable legacies. shameful portrayal
- Paris-Michael K. J. (@ParisJackson) January 11, 2017