BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: Fans are baffled as the priest who allowed a scene from Sabrina Carpenter’s latest music video ‘Feather’ to be shot inside a Brooklyn Church has been ousted from his administrative duties.
Some portions from the 24-year-old pop star’s music video released on Halloween, were shot at Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Annunciation Parish in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Following the release of the music video, which has been viewed more than 11 million times since its release four weeks ago, Bishop Robert J Brennan made his displeasure known by telling the Catholic News Agency he is “appalled at what was filmed at Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Brooklyn.”
He further added, “The parish did not follow diocesan policy regarding the filming on Church property, which includes a review of the scenes and script.”
The pastor, Msgr. Jamie J. Gigantiello, who allowed the filming of the scene inside the Church, was subsequently relieved of his administrative duties, per Billboard.
However, Carpenter’s fans were not happy with the dismissal of the pastor and they took to social media to criticize the church for their decision.
People did not like the sacking of the priest. The made their opinions known on the social media.
'Sabrina Carpenter didn’t do anything offensive,' say protesting fans
"They don’t strip priests of their duties for sexually abusing minors but they’d strip them for a music video…"
"She didn’t even do anything offensive my God," exclaimed another user.
Someone else said, "FREE THE CATHOLIC PRIEST. he gave us an amazing music video."
"That’s what he loses his job for … but others don’t for abusing children lol," said someone else.
Another fan said, "We haven’t had a poster cause this much controversy in a while. Madonna, Britney, Xtina, Gaga all walked so Sabrina could run! Go girl!!!!"
"He got sacked for that?? unbelievable," said another fan.
Someone else said, "His holy sacrifice should not be in vain."
Another fan exclaimed, "Literal Horror Movies have been filmed in Catholic churches before. What is so appalling about a music video?"
"Thats crazy, the part inside the church is pretty cotton candy like, its not anti religious at all," said someone else.
What is the music video about?
The controversial part of the video starts when Carpenter dances around in a church during a man’s funeral, wearing a short tulle dress in black. The church used in the controversial music video is Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Annunciation Parish, which in turn sparked outrage among the church authorities.
Gigantiello approved the shooting of the video in September while revealing that he initially approved after finding not anything negative about the pop star online.
He added that he further approved the filming in an “effort to further strengthen the bonds between the young creative artists who make up a large part of this community.”
In an interview with the New York Times, he said, while he was told the sequence would be a funeral scene, the ultimate result was “not what was initially presented to me.”
