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(CNN Spanish) - Jesus has just returned from 40 days and 40 nights in the desert, where he was facing the temptations of the devil. According to the Bible, he never gave in. However, a Brazilian comedy group reimagined this biblical passage in a Netflix satire that has unleashed fury among some Christians. In his parody, upon his return from the desert, the messiah came home with a special friend with whom he shared a season in the desert.
The Netflix movie is titled "The First Temptation of Christ", and this is described by the streaming platform:
“Jesus turns 30 and takes a surprise guest to meet his family. A special so wrong that it can only happen to the people of Porta dos Fundos. ”
This special has joined more than 2.2 million people who have signed a petition on Change.org asking Netflix to remove the tape from its catalog and asking for an apology from the “Porta dos Fundos” group, a Brazilian comedy group that created the movie, they say they have "seriously offended Christians."
The story of “Porta dos Fundos”, winners of the 2019 International Emmy for their parody of the Last Supper (The Last Hangover), begins when Jesus' parents invite their closest friends to a dinner for their 30th birthday. Jesus, who has been in the desert, does not know what awaits him at home, and opens the door accompanied by Orlando, facing the surprise of his family and friends.
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"I find it very offensive and disrespectful, I don't agree with being offended by believers that way." “It's an aberration !!” “It's a disgusting sign of disrespect to God. No one will make fun of God, lower this disgusting Netflix ”, say some comments in the Change.org petition that more signatures have collected, because online CNN in Spanish could track at least five others, from different countries, which accumulate hundreds of thousands more signatures.
Porta dos Fundos cofounder Fabio Porchat said Monday in statements to Variety magazine that they play "hinting that Jesus has a new friend and probably this new friend is gay, and they've been having a good time in the desert for 40 days."
Porchat called the protests "homophobic."
“If someone should be angry with us, it should be the gay community, because the gay character ends up being the Devil. But the gay community loves us, ”he added in statements to the magazine.
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CNN en Español asked Netflix for a comment on these requests and although they did not issue one on behalf of the platform, they sent us a comment from the creators of Porta dos Fundos:
"Porta dos Fundos values artistic freedom and humor through the satire of the most diverse cultural issues in our society and believes that freedom of expression is essential for the construction of a democratic country."
We independently contacted Porta dos Fundos, who in a statement sent to this media said they founded the group to "make people laugh through satire on various cultural issues in our society."
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"We firmly believe that freedom of expression not only concerns artistic freedom, but it is essential for a country with a flourishing democracy," they said.
Even the son of the president of Brazil, Eduardo Bolsonaro, entered the controversy tweeting that the group "does not represent Brazilian society and the repudiation for this film comes from several parts."
We are sorry that this garbage got this far in Poland. They do not represent Brazilian society and the repudiation of this film is coming from various parts. https://t.co/ZlcqzsNORy
- Eduardo Bolsonaro🇧🇷 (@BolsonaroSP) December 14, 2019
In social networks, the film also received support:
Humor is humor, there is something for everyone and for minorities, it is not a sin to laugh at something.
Nothing is untouchable. Untouchable is that KNOWLEDGE that you know affects him.
If I have a Christian, gay or trans friend unless ellx tolerates it, I'm not going to be joking #Chauflix #ChauNetflix
- MionNya (@MionNya) December 19, 2019
Tear millennial style clothes: Be offended by the "gay Jesus" movie, cancel the Netflix account and campaign on social networks for the rest to do the same ... Do the same things that hurt the heart of God hurt us? ...
- César Soto V. (@cesarsotov) December 18, 2019
Some questioned the reasons who reject the film, as they point out that they are silent against other problems such as sexual abuse by priests:
* priest abused 40 minors *
Catholics:
* Netflix releases a series in which they say Jesus was gay *
Catholics: boycott of Netflix does not respect my religion how they are going to say he was gay AH #Chauflix #ChauNetflix
__
He who does not respect is another
Set your priorities
- nash (@olivernashbb) December 18, 2019
What a beautiful world if the religious were indignant in the same way with the satire of gay Jesus as with the pedophile priests and the corruption in the religious institutions, NOSIERTO? #Chauflix
- Pablo (@tosendfruit) December 18, 2019
Porchat added in his statements to Variety that the special “does not incite violence, we are not telling people that they should not believe in God,” according to statements to Variety magazine on Monday.
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“They (Netflix) have not told us anything like: Maybe we should remove the special. They support freedom of expression, ”he said.
GayJesusNetflix