Netflix Officially Ordered To Remove 'Gay Jesus' Movie After Filmmakers Attacked, Court Rules

In early December, a movie depicting a “gay Jesus” hit Netflix in Brazil and the resulting response from viewers was overwhelmingly negative, with some people criticizing the movie for its blasphemous content. After the controversy boiled over and resulted in a violent attack, a Rio de Janeiro judge has now ruled that the movie needs to be removed from the streaming platform, reports Variety.

“The First Temptation of Christ” is a movie created by Brazilian comedy troupe Porta dos Fundos, who are well known for their boundary-pushing satire, such as the similar “The Last Hangover.” The group’s Rio de Janeiro headquarters was vandalized with a molotov cocktail after the film's release, though the attack caused little damage and no injuries.

Suspect Eduardo Fauzi Richard Cerquise, a member of both the local social-liberal party called PSL and the rightist activist group Brazilian Integralist Front (FIB), was allegedly involved in the Dec. 24 attack, according to The Rio Times. He was expelled from his political parties.

The push to have the “gay Jesus” movie “The Last Temptation of Christ” removed did not die down after, with groups all over the world pushing for its removal. One, in particular, the Brazilian Catholic organization, claimed that the movie itself was an attack on Catholics.

Judge Benedicto Abicair from Rio de Janeiro ultimately ruled on Wednesday that removing the “gay Jesus” film from Netflix “is beneficial not only to the Christian community but to Brazilian society, which is mostly Christian.” Judge Abicair said he feared the movie would cause “irreparable damage.”

Variety reports that Netflix and Porta dos Fundos declined to comment.