So ICYMI, British TV show Urban Myths premiered a trailer of the up-coming episode "Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon" episode on Wednesday. The new episode is a fabled story set to feature Elizabeth Taylor (played by Stockard Channing), Marlon Brando (played by Brian Cox), and Michael Jackson. The trio of late greats are apparently taking a cross-country road trip some time after 9/11, when they get pulled over by a cop en route. Now Urban Myths is known for their fake stories (hence the title), but this one is particular is quite strange and confusing. The show had a lot of controversy as they cast Joseph Fiennes (a WHITE man) to play the late King of Pop (a BLACK man) last year, and this trailer is not working in their favor. There are so many questions to be answered.
Now in the trailer, it shows Fiennes' attempt at being Michael Jackson, which couldn't be more wrong.
This is the trailer in question.
Clearly, it's a parody, but this is one of the more cringe-worthy that have appeared in 2017. For starters, Michael Jackson was NOT white. He was a black man who had a skin disease called Vitiligo. Who allowed this to happen? WHY was this allowed to happen? Why would you even think about inserting yourself into the L that is this parody?
This is not to say that Fiennes isn't a good actor (which I'm sure he is), but THIS is unacceptable. Joseph Fiennes as MJ looks like the lovechild of Lord Voldemort and Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka. Yes, it's true that Michael Jackson has indeed gone under the knife a few times, but this is just disrespectful to the man's legacy. From the makeup to the clothing; everything about this episode should have a big, red, capital 'L' attached to the top. The late icon himself even said in his 1993 interview with Oprah that he wouldn't want a white actor to portray him. Even his daughter Paris, is offended by this casting of her late father. It is 2017. Do better, Urban Myths. Do better, Sky Arts. Everyone involved in this production just should collectively Do better.
Of course, Twitter spared no soul when criticizing the trailer. Take a look at the #JosephFiennes hashtag for yourself.
I'm also not going to ask why Rupert Grint (aka Harry Potter's right hand man, Ron Weasley) is in the trailer playing as a friend of Hitler's. I'm just going to leave that one alone.