Netflix in Brazil has undergone controversy after releasing a film called The First Temptation of Christ, which depicts Jesus as gay. After a decision was made to ban the movie from the streaming platform, the Supreme Court has overturned the ruling.
After news of the film came out, Christians were angered and over two million people signed a petition calling for the project to be abandoned. The protests became violent after the production company was attacked with Molotov cocktails last month.
Recently, a judge temporarily banned the film to appease its critics, but Supreme Court president Dias Toffoli has ruled that Netflix should be permitted to resume streaming the show. The reasoning was that freedom of speech is fundamental in a democracy.
The judge commented: ‘One cannot suppose that a humorous satire has the ability to weaken the values of the Christian faith, whose existence is traced back more than two thousand years, and which is the belief of the majority of Brazilian citizens.’
The movie was released on the platform as a Christmas special and created by Brazilian YouTube comedy producers Porta dos Fundos. The satire sees Jesus bringing home his boyfriend Orlando to meet the family as Mary and Joseph plan a surprise 30th birthday party for their son.
