Paris Jackson’s upcoming portrayal of Jesus sparks backlash; producer calls it ‘blown out of proportion’ – USA TODAY

Hundreds of thousands of people aren’t fans of Paris Jackson playing Jesus. 

More than 280,000 people have signed a Change.org petition to prevent the distribution of the indie film “Habit,” which critics say is “Christianophobic garbage.”

“A new blasphemous Hollywood film is predicted to come out soon depicting Jesus as a lesbian woman,” reads the petition, which was created one week ago. 

The 22-year-old daughter of Michael Jackson was tapped to play the role of Jesus, alongside Bella Thorne and Gavin Rossdale. A press release, according to Deadline and Entertainment Tonight, said “Habit” will follow “a street smart, party girl with a Jesus fetish (who) gets mixed up in a violent drug deal and finds a possible way out; by masquerading as a nun.”

‘My dad caught on pretty quick’: Paris Jackson talks ‘shadows’ clouding music career, sexuality in new series

Another petition created by the group One Million Moms is also gaining steam with over 74,000 signatures denouncing the film. The group, which “stands against the immorality, violence, vulgarity and profanity the entertainment media,” accused the movie of mocking Christianity and ridiculing people of faith.

Cassian Elwes, an executive producer on the film, took to Twitter on Thursday to weigh in on some of the controversial claims surrounding the movie.

“Of course the story has been completely blown out of proportion,” he wrote. “In fact Paris appears in a fantasy moment that Bella has in the film where Bella has a vision of her mother played by Paris ) dressed as Jesus.”

In response to another tweet asking if Jackson does in fact play a “lesbian Jesus,” Elwes replied: “That’s absolute nonsense.”

USA TODAY reached out to Jackson’s and Thorne’s reps for comment. 

Following the backlash, Sia sent some support to Jackson. She tweeted: “Dear @ParisJackson I love you, keep going. I believe you are a good person.”

Jackson recently opened up about her sexuality in her new Facebook Watch series, “Unfiltered: Paris Jackson and Gabriel Glenn,” her boyfriend and bandmate. Despite dating a man, Jackson says she identifies as gay. 

“Homosexuality, in general, is very taboo in the Black community,” Jackson says. “So that, on top of the religious aspect, it was something that I did feel like I needed to withhold for a while. And then the first time I came out to a family member they, like, didn’t believe me.”

Photos:Out LGBTQ celebs

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