'The Chosen' Faces Boycott Calls After Pride Flag Spotted on Set
By: Ryan Smith (Newsweek)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The Chosen has become the latest target of boycott calls from a faction of conservatives after an LGBTQ+ Pride flag was spotted on the Christian historical drama's set.
Distributed internationally by Lionsgate Television, The Chosen is the first multi-series show that traces the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Some $45 million—mostly through crowdfunding—was spent on the first two seasons of the production. A third season premiered in December and concluded in February.
While The Chosen has garnered largely positive reviews, it is now facing criticism and boycott calls for the presence of an LGBTQ+ Pride flag that was spotted in behind-the-scenes footage of the show's upcoming fourth season.
In recent months, the number of large U.S. brands being targeted with boycott calls has grown dramatically, as a host of different companies unveil products supporting Pride Month, which takes place every June. Companies supporting the LGBTQ+ community outside of Pride Month have also faced backlash from conservatives.
Actor Jonathan Roumie is pictured portraying Jesus giving the Sermon on the Mount in this scene from season three of "The Chosen" TV series. The show is facing boycott calls after an LGBTQ+ Pride flag was spotted in behind-the-scenes footage on the production's set.Vidangel Studios
Bud Light was initially targeted in April for a small branded partnership it did with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Retailer Target has also been the subject of calls for boycotts and has said it received bomb threats after introducing its 2023 line of Pride month merchandise.
Despite such inclusive marketing and branding initiatives being commonplace among corporations for years, many have become engulfed in controversy in recent months. Some experts have pinned the blame on a small number of influential far-right figures orchestrating a plan to make support for LGBTQ+ communities toxic for major companies.
Taking to Twitter, conservative sports host Jon Root shared screenshots of the LGBTQ+ Pride flag on the set of The Chosen.
"Christians, just like we boycotted Target & Bud Light, we need to boycott @thechosentv," Root captioned the post. "The promotion of the Pride Flag is never acceptable in church or any form of ministry. While you boycott & encourage friends/family to do the same, please pray for [creator, director, writer and executive producer] Dallas Jenkins, the actors/actresses, production crew and everyone at Angel Studios so they may understand the error of their ways."
Christians, just like we boycotted Target & Bud Light, we need to boycott @thechosentv
The promotion of the Pride Flag is never acceptable in church or any form of ministry.
While you boycott & encourage friends/family to do the same, please pray for Dallas Jenkins, the… pic.twitter.com/CwURbrMYL5
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) May 30, 2023
Root also tagged The Chosen's Twitter account, writing: "Hey @thechosentv, Can you explain why there's a Pride flag on set?"
Responding, a representative of the show tweeted: "Just like with our hundreds of cast and crew who have different beliefs (or no belief at all) than we do, we will work with anyone on our show who helps us portray or honor the authentic Jesus."
Just like with our hundreds of cast and crew who have different beliefs (or no belief at all) than we do, we will work with anyone on our show who helps us portray or (1/2)
— The Chosen (@thechosentv) May 30, 2023
"We ask that audiences let the show speak for itself and focus on the message, not the messenger, because we'll always let you down," the statement continued.
Newsweek has asked Lionsgate for comment by email.
honor the authentic Jesus. We ask that audiences let the show speak for itself and focus on the message, not the messenger, because we'll always let you down. (2/2)
— The Chosen (@thechosentv) May 30, 2023
Conservative rapper Bryson Gray, famed for his anti-Joe Biden track "Let's Go Brandon," shared a screenshot of Root's exchange with The Chosen's account.
"I never watched The Chosen and after this exchange, I never will," the musician stated.
I never watched "The Chosen" and after this exchange, I never will. pic.twitter.com/ehngcaYX2G
— CCG BRYSON (@RealBrysonGray) May 30, 2023
Joining the discussion, Five Times August singer/songwriter Brad Skistimas tweeted that there was "absolutely zero reason to have the flag out on display on set regardless of anyone's personal beliefs."
"Time to BOYCOTT The Chosen with 'Bud-Lightening!!'" wrote one Twitter user, while another said: "The authentic Jesus would be against the PRIDE flag and the sins it represents!"
"Bad look," complained another. "Don't promote sin. It ruins the witness and confuses the world who is watching us. Have you not been paying attention to how Christian Conservatives are reacting to the forced LGBTQ stuff?"
A number of other Twitter users spoke out against the uproar, including Christians who spoke about the show's wide appeal.
"We are called to bring people to the presence of Christ for transformation," said one. "We are all fallen sinners and only Jesus can transform one's life from that of sin to that of repentance. This show is welcoming all people, it is not theirs to judge.
"By connecting Christians with unbelievers they are doing what they are called to do. You casting judgement on the show because you don't like seeing them including all people is your personal belief system masquerading as 'what the Bible says.' Step out from behind your tribal knowledge and lean into the Truth."
We are called to bring people to the presence of Christ for transformation. We are all fallen sinners and only Jesus can transform one's life from that of sin to that of repentance. This show is welcoming all people, it is not theirs to judge. By connecting Christians with…
— N.B. (@H_A_V_O_C_Ex) May 30, 2023
Another Twitter user called the social media backlash "lame," adding: "Jesus not only said come as you are but went to the sinners in their sin. He loved them all the way to forgiveness."
"They aren't promoting anything," another Twitter user weighed in, in answer to accusations that the show was doing such via the flag. "Their crew members are employees who are free to wear or display what they wish within the bounds of the law."
"It's a TV show, not Jesus," countered another. "If you're worried about accuracy, maybe focus on the fact that Jesus was Middle Eastern, not white? Jesus loves everyone (including the LGBTQ community) & certainly wouldn't troll around Twitter looking for symbols that make him uncomfortable."
Directly addressing Root's boycott call, another stated: "You know it breaks my heart that you've chosen to attempt to destroy this program @thechosentv that is responsible for bringing millions back to Christ. [In my opinion] leave judgement to Christ our Lord and Savior least you be judged in the manner that you judge."
Dallas Jenkins, director of "The Chosen" TV series confers with Jonathan Roumie, the actor playing Jesus, in a scene from season two. The show is facing boycott calls after an LGBTQ+ Pride flag was spotted in behind-the-scenes footage on the production's set. Vidangel Studios
The Chosen showrunner Dallas Jenkins previously told Newsweek about the show's diversity and inclusion in other areas.
Lead actor, Jonathan Roumie, has Egyptian-Irish parentage and family roots in Syria. His followers include a mix of ethnicities: Tamar, an Ethiopian woman (Amber Shana Williams); the quasi-autistic disciple Matthew, played by Paras Patel, a South Asian, and Israeli-born actor Shahar Isaac, who plays the disciple Peter.
Regarding the cast, "We tried to run the gamut because that is authentic," Jenkins said. "Our story is that Jesus came for everyone."
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This is getting beyond ridiculous.
I started watching that on the advice of Mr G (who constantly tells me I need Jesus) and it was too preachy for me.
And now to the topic....these people have lost their damn minds. What if they see a rainbow in the sky? Are they going to boycott the sky, too? Didn't God send Noah a rainbow as a promise not to flood the earth again? Are they going to boycott the Noah's story? Hey maybe they'll boycott that silly piece of construction in Kentucky
all the neo-nazis were whining about boycotting chickfila earlier this week on rwnj radio...
lauren blowbert was threatening north face, when her mouth wasn't full of magathumper dick...
I have never watched it. There was really only one book I liked that my Grandfather had me read. It was called The Robe.
I just seeded an article on the cons boycott of Chik
They made a movie of that that starred Richard Burton...I think
... a movie that was considered risque at the time for one scene.
That's almost grounds for a righteous kill.
He's a lapsed Catholic just like I am so he's just kidding. He also tells me I'm going to smoke a turd in Purgatory
Wow, what a shitty way to spend the afterlife......... hehe
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Well Target gave in to those who were threatening stores and employees for displaying this merchandise. I guess someone thought they would cave again. NOW, LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS: I DO NOT CONDONE THIS FROM EITHER SIDE.
I'm sure losing
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Wrong. Target was getting threats from assholes who wanted the Pride merchandise gone. This was before their stock went down, and their stock will go back up. Target has nothing to worry about in that department. It only has to worry about the bigoted terrorists who want all things Pride abolished. As a matter of fact, everything and everyone that has anything to do with Pride have to be worried about bigoted terrorists this year since conservative politics have made them bat crap crazy.
I already said I don't condone this from either side, but to answer your question, the bigoted asleep intolerant rightists who are also making bomb threats to Target, AMONG OTHER BUSINESSES, are more of a threat. As I said, conservative politics and politicians have made their base bat crap crazy over anything LGBTQ, and everyone who celebrates Pride has to worry about these unhinged terrorists your side has wrought.
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Have a good next day.
Actually, I did read the link. All of this controversy is still on your politicians and politics. You people have been ranting and raving about things LGBTQ for months because that's what your pundits chose to distract you all with, and you all ran with it, wreaking havoc for people who just want to go about living their lives. Instead, you brand them groomers, mentally ill, and other disgusting names, all because you people were told to. I hope you have the incredibly horrible day that you deserve.
There's 2 anti LGBT seeds on NT right now
I know. It's sickening what they are doing to the LGBT community, but they don't care how they treat other people as long as they get their way by whatever means necessary.
And BTFW, I love that all you did was quote me throwing your own words back at you.
Then let them live their lives. Talk to your people that have and are making bomb threats because a chain store removed a product. Stop trying to push all this on kids. Step outside of your temper tantrum and take a close look. None of this started until it was pushed onto kids. And that is why people boycotted Target, they were pushing this shit for kids. Let them live their lives and make their own decisions.
[try being more civil, unless you'd like to see all of your comments here disappear, like it says at comment 1]
The only ones having temper tantrums are you people, and only because you've been told to have them. Your politicians and politics are why this is happening. Again, have the horrible day you deserve since all you people do is make sure anyone other than your kind has shitty days.
[Deleted.] BTFW - I'm not on the side trying to dehumanize LGBTQ people. That would be you and your kind. Maybe you'll wake up when a horrible tragedy happens to LGBTQ people because of all of your side's propaganda, but you probably won't. Your side will be the ones saying the LGBTQ community deserved it for some reason you or your pundits will make up.
You mean like when a trans shoots up a Christian school, killing 6 people, including three children, most likely because of hatred of Christians?
That kind of horrible tragedy.? Did those people deserve it because of the left's hatred of Christians....or does that not affect you?
So you have one trans person out of how many school shootings. Did you care about any of the other school shootings or did you think they were "false flags", but this one is real? Did you care about other children being slaughtered in their classrooms or were they "collateral damage" as conservatives have called them? Just admit that you don't give a fuck about school shootings unless you can make a big deal about the shooter being "the other". And the left doesn't hate Christians. People would just like Christians to not force others to live by their religion which is exactly what Christians are doing. I do not condone any mass shootings whatsoever, so if that is what you are implying, you can just move along to an echo chamber and boast about how one trans shooter trumps every other shooting in the United States and all of you can jerk off over it.
Exactly! Mass shootings happen every day anymore in the US but let's obsess about that one out of hundreds which was committed by a trans person instead of discussing our gun problem...
Sure do. Mostly black on black shootings.
"one out of hundreds committed by a trans person instead of the guns..."
I don't think "hundreds" of trans persons committed shootings, but if you say so...
However, even if there were hundreds of trans initiated shootings, zero of them would have been initiated by the gun.
They'll never care about the LGBTQ community until someone they love is gay or transgender. And then again, I think these people have conditional love for their families
That is the only school shooting he has ever focused on because the alleged shooter is transgender
WOW! That there was a stunning amount of rank Intellectual dishonesty you managed to exhibit in just one comment...
Nope. My post stands as is.
You have proof of this?
BTW.... the trans was not the "alleged" shooter.
She is all over video doing said shooting.
How do you know I don't already have someone like that?
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Your sentence structure gave him the tool to mock you but anyone reading it who has a working brain cell knows what you meant
how about
out of the hundreds of school shootings let's focus on one committed by a trans person
I don't mean to play English teacher but he bugs me and I wanted to help you out
Not accurate the shooters are mostly white.
Number of mass shootings in the United States between 1982 and April 2023, by shooter's race or ethnicity
do you have proof of her conviction? Because the proper and legal terminology is alleged or allegedly until the indicted has been convicted
I figured some one as smart as you wouldn't need a law lesson from an immoral, stupid person
because of your very un-Christian like comments. OR are you going to deny you're a Christian?
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Wait! How did the topic of black on black crime get in here when the topic is about LGBTQ issues?
Somebody has a race fixation
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It's really not but your comment just needed to sit out there because like I said anyone with a working brain cell knew what JBB meant and nobody else went out of their way to make fun of him
yeah...you do
So by the statistics YOU provided, out of 142 shootings, 25 were committed by blacks.
142/25 equals about 18-19 percent of shooting, yet are 13 percent of the population.
Whites committed about 50 percent, but are 67 percent of the population.
My post stands as correct, but clarified by demographics.
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[this was totally unnecessary. You made your point]
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Anytime religion comes up or in the case of this seed about the Satanic Temple you make arguments that imply you are Christian. Once again...working brain cell....critical thinking....
I rarely talk about his wrong doings but if you have proof that I have already convicted trmp please be my guest
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When you do talk about them, have you ever used the word "alleged"?
Most smart people would say no.
142/25 equals about 18-19 percent of shooting, yet are 13 percent of the population.
There's only been 142 mass shootings in 40 years?
Strange how some claim there's been that many this year.
Here's a picture of mass shooters arrested in 2021
As the stats pointed out that is not true. You can spin until you dizzy but it's not working.
Look at the picture above. Very few white faces on there.
My comment stands.
I'm sure that you feel that it does, but the stats that we are discussing from my link do not support your original comment.
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Wow. Talk about snowflakes. It’s behind the scenes and these babies lose their fuckin minds. All over something that doesn’t even affect them.
but their children might see it and start asking questions!!!!!!!!
Yeah, and then they’d be in a real pickle. They might have to actually talk to their kids.
Wow, what a bunch of snowflakes whiners.
If they are looking for accuracy I am pretty sure the flag was not around when J.C. was so it is out of place. I seem to think there are many many shows that film and something is out of place. Maybe a coffee cup in a scene of Game of Thrones?
So either fix it or go with it and let the people that look at the background have fun finding it. The vast majority of people (I am talking 99.99%) won't notice it. But getting your panties in a bunch over it?
Our society has way too much time on their hands and spend way too much time looking for things to be outraged about.
Of course the "uproar" may actually be a couple dozen people on Twitter. That gives some people the opportunity to be outraged over what a couple dozen people are outraged about.
And round and round we go.