Catholic pastor's furious response to Cynthia Erivo being cast as Jesus in new stage show
A Catholic pastor furious about Cyntha Erivo's casting as Jesus in a Hollywood production of Jesus Christ Superstar has blasted it as 'blasphemous' in a scathing online rant.
John K. Amanchukwu Sr., of North Carolina, took offense to Erivo, 38, being cast in the Hollywood Bowl's production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical, saying the Wicked actress doesn't fit the bill.
In an X post, he fumed: 'With all due respect and humbly submitted, Cynthia Erivo is too bald, brown and bisexual to play Jesus.
'Casting a woman as Jesus Christ is an intentional form of blasphemy that Hollywood would be fuming over if done to certain other religions.'
His outrage led a chorus of furious Christians who are also unhappy with the choice.
Erivo previously appeared on an all-female recording of the musical's soundtrack, where Morgan James performed as Jesus.
Singer John Legend, who is also black, played the role of Jesus in NBC's 2018 production of the musical.
John K. Amanchukwu Sr., of North Carolina , took offense to Erivo, 38, being cast in the Hollywood Bowl's production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical, saying the Wicked actress doesn't fit the bill
!['With all due respect, and humbly submitted, Cynthia Erivo is too BALD, BROWN, and BI[SEXUAL] to play Jesus,' he wrote on X. 'Casting a woman as Jesus Christ is an intentional form of blasphemy that Hollywood would be fuming over if done to certain other religions'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/20/19/95419357-14418139-_With_all_due_respect_and_humbly_submitted_Cynthia_Erivo_is_too_-a-1_1740078433235.jpg)
'With all due respect, and humbly submitted, Cynthia Erivo is too BALD, BROWN, and BI[SEXUAL] to play Jesus,' he wrote on X. 'Casting a woman as Jesus Christ is an intentional form of blasphemy that Hollywood would be fuming over if done to certain other religions'
Jesus Christ Superstar made its debut on Broadway in 1971 to controversy.
It has long outraged Christians, many of whom take offense to its suggestion that Jesus had a romantic relationship with prostitute Mary Magdalene.
The plot is also sympathetic to Judas, who betrayed Jesus.
Newsmax host, Todd Starnes, also took offense to the casting, tweeting: 'The Hollywood Bowl just hired a bald, black woman who identifies as queer to portray our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Cynthia Erivo will star in a revival of "Jesus Christ Superstar."
'Dude. WTH?!?' he wrote.
Oli London, a news commenter who de-transitioned from being a transgender woman, wrote on X: 'Cynthia Erivo cast to play Jesus Christ in the Hollywood Bowl’s Jesus Christ Superstar. Would she be allowed to mock another religion?'
Iraq veteran and political commenter, Rob Smith, claimed the Hollywood production was 'mocking' Christians.
John K. Amanchukwu Sr (pictured wirh President Trump) took offense to Erivo, 38, being cast in the Hollywood Bowl's production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical, saying the Wicked actress doesn't fit the bill
Singer John Legend, who is also black, played the role of Jesus in NBC's 2018 production of the musical (pictured)
'This is liberal Hollywood hating Christians, hating Christianity, and mocking Christianity and all of your Christians in your face,' he said in an X video.
'They will put their money behind mocking you. And they will do it to inspire a reaction from you.'
Erivo, who is Christian, has previously discussed her relationship with faith.
'I have a deep belief that God makes people as they’re meant to be. The rules for themselves that people put upon others have nothing to do with me and my faith,' the queer actress told Elle in November.
'I can’t allow narrow thinking that some Christians or Catholics have of what faith is to affect how vast I think faith can be. Faith is so big—so much bigger than set rules,' she continued. 'If me loving someone makes you upset, then we have to refocus.'
Eviro goes on to say that she believes she's following the faith as long as she is following the main points of Christianity, which means being 'kind to other people, be as good to other people as I would have other people be to me.'
'If those are the things I’m following, then I think I’m following my faith,' she told the magazine.
