KMazur/WireImageMichael Jackson‘s daughter, Paris, is speaking out against British actor Joseph Fiennes‘ portrayal of her father in an episode of the upcoming TV series, Urban Myths. In the trailer for the show, Fiennes, who is white, wears prosthetics to look like Jackson.
In a series of tweets, 18-year-old Paris called the casting of the series offensive.
“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 in response to a Michael Jackson fan account.
Paris added, “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.”
That’s a reference to Elizabeth Taylor, portrayed in the episode by Stockard Channing. The series dramatizes events that allegedly happened to famous people: This particular episode focuses on a road trip that Michael Jackson supposedly took with Taylor and Marlon Brando in September 2001.
Paris also touched on how the series damages the legacy of her father, Taylor and Brando.
“Where is the respect?” she asked the fan. “They worked through blood sweat and tears for ages to create such profound and remarkable legacies. shameful portrayal.”
Paris wasn’t the only Jackson who took offense to the trailer. MJ’s nephew, Taj Jackson tweeted, “Unfortunately this is what my family has to deal with. No words could express the blatant disrespect.”
The show’s director, Ben Palmer, tells the British paper The Guardian, “We were casting Michael Jackson in 2001 and that obviously is a challenge in terms of the physical resemblance. We were really looking for the performance that could unlock the spirit, and we really think Joe Fiennes has done that. He’s given a really sweet, nuanced, characterful performance.”
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