After portraying Jesus Christ in a daring new production of Jesus Christ Superstar, British actress Cynthia Erivo stirred great controversy.
Erivo is portrayed as the stereotypically male biblical character in the reworked stage production, which made its New York City debut last week. Audiences, religious organizations, and cultural analysts have praised and criticized the production.
Some have called Erivo’s portrayal of Jesus “transcendent” and “revolutionary.”
However, certain conservative and religious groups have harshly criticized the casting decision, accusing the production of blasphemy and deviating too far from biblical precedent.
With hashtags like “NotMyJesus” and “ErivoChrist” trending in recent days, social media platforms have turned into arenas for opposing viewpoints.
“This is not just about casting,” said Reverend Michael Grant of the New Covenant Fellowship. “This is about respecting sacred figures and religious tradition. The portrayal of Jesus as a Black woman is deeply offensive to many believers.”
In contrast, fans of the production claim that the message of Jesus, compassion, justice, and love is not constrained by gender, color, or appearance.
“Art is meant to challenge,” said Dr. Leila James, a professor of theology and cultural studies at NYU. “Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal invites us to think about how we see the divine in others, especially in those historically marginalized.”
Cynthia Erivo’s Jesus has unquestionably rekindled debate about representation, religion, and the place of art in society, regardless of whether it is viewed as a spiritual revolution or as going too far.
