'Jesus was a carpenter': Pop singer unrepentant over racy video shot in Catholic church. Priest who OK'd shoot is punished.



Pop singer Sabrina Carpenter seemed unfazed amid the fallout over her racy music video for "Feather" partially shot inside Brooklyn’s Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, telling Variety that "we got approval in advance — and Jesus was a carpenter."

What are the details?

Carpenter, 24, has upped her profile with hit songs and a plum gig opening for Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour, Inside Edition said.

The video for "Feather" shows Carpenter in the church clad in a short black dress and veil around coffins, one of which is adorned with a cross and the phrase "RIP Bitch." Other scenes show her with men who take a nonconsensual photo of her body and then die in grisly ways, Inside Edition added. Carpenter also is splattered in fake blood for one scene.

Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello gave Carpenter and her team permission to shoot the video at the church, the outlet said, adding that soon after the video was released, Gigantiello was stripped of his administrative duties. The priest noted the images in the video were “not what was initially presented” to him, the outlet said.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn — which oversees the Catholic churches in Brooklyn and Queens — said in a statement that it was "appalled," CBS News reported.

The diocese added to the news network that Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated a Mass of Reparation at the church and "through the offering of this Mass, Bishop Brennan has restored the sanctity of this church and repaired the harm."

More from CBS News:

In a post on Facebook following those actions asking for the church community's forgiveness, Gigantiello said a film crew had come to them in September, and that he allowed filming after not finding anything untoward in a search of the participants. He said he had agreed as an "effort to further strengthen the bonds between the young creative artists who make up a large part of this community."

Gigantiello went on to say he wasn't there during the filming, had no idea anything "provocative" was being done and didn't know coffins would be placed in the church.

Carpenter was in the Disney Channel's "Girl Meets World" series that ran from 2014-2017 and has been singing for several years. Her music video has been viewed 12 million times on YouTube since its release.

Sabrina Carpenter's "Feather" Music Video Causes Priest To Be Removed | Billboard News youtu.be

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White rapper Iggy Azalea called out for 'blackfishing' in new music video. She fires back hard — but then 'quits' music.



Rapper Iggy Azalea is facing accusations of "blackfishing" because of her recent music video, according to various reports.

"Blackfishing," according to CNN, is a term that "came to prominence in 2018 after journalist Wanna Thompson tweeted about 'white girls cosplaying as black women on Instagram.'" The term, according to the outlet, "refers to people darkening their skin color in order to resemble black or biracial people."

What are the details?

Social media users say that Azalea — real name Amethyst Amelia Kelly, a white Australian-born female rapper — engaged in "blackfishing" in the video for her latest single, "I Am the Stripclub."

In the video, the normally blonde Azalea swaps her flaxen locks for a dark wig and dramatic eye shadow while wearing a sheer, full bodysuit and leather corset.

As she raps, black men clad in leather dance around her.

After the video hit social media, Azalea faced criticism for reportedly trying to appear black in the video.

Clothing label boohoo tweeted about the rapper's look, writing that she was "serving."

One user fired back, "Serving what? Appropriation and brown face?"

"Blackfish. That's what she's serving," another complained.

According to one user, Azeala's look was "cosmetic blackfishing in every which way."

Another user snapped, "She is hardcore blackfishing and trolling with the look and the song."

She fired back at critics on social media, where she tweeted, "I'm the same color as I always am, just in a dimly lit room with red lights. It's the same makeup from every other part of the video just with a Smokey [sic] eye and different wig. Just ignore them, who cares? Let em talk."

She later added, "I can't care about something that ridiculous and baseless. I'm wearing a shade 6 in armarni [sic] foundation, it's the same shade I've worn for the last 3 years. It's the same shade in every music video since sally Walker. Suddenly I wear a black wig in a club scene & it's an issue."

@jcb0530 I’m the same color as I always am, just in a dimly lit room with red lights. It’s the same makeup from ev… https://t.co/u6aoYCUZfm

— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) 1625268974.0

What else?

Azalea has also faced prior criticism for using what critics say is a "blaccent" when she raps.

In 2013, she hit back at the accusations and said, "I couldn't talk in an American accent — I could, but it would sound very fake — but I can rap in one with no problem."

She added, "If you're mad about it and you're a black person then start a rap career and give it a go, too. Or maybe if you're black start singing like a country singer and be a white person. I don't know. Why is it such a big deal?"

Anything else to know?

On Thursday, Azalea announced that she was leaving music for the next several years in order to focus on other projects.

She tweeted, "'End of an Era' is so special to me because after I drop my album next month iam [sic] going to take a few years to focus on other creative projects and things I'm feeling passionate and inspired by, beyond music. I'm excited for you guys to see different sides to me in the future."

She added, "Shifting my energy and focus to what I'm most excited about is what is right for me and I hope you'll continue to support whatever creative projects I'm out here doing! I really love this album and I just want my fans to enjoy this with me. I hope I see so many of you on tour!"

Shifting my energy and focus to what I’m most excited about is what is right for me and I hope you’ll continue to s… https://t.co/qKq37SOkiS

— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) 1626383349.0

(Content warning: Rough language, graphic imagery):

Iggy Azalea - I Am The Stripclub [Official Music Video]www.youtube.com

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus takes down 'we'll convert your children' music video after group says it received 'threats of harm'



The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus set a music video to private after the group said it received "threats of harm" over the song that repeats the lines "we'll convert your children" and "we're coming for your children" numerous times.

Chorus director Chris Verdugo told Yahoo Life the tune — "A Message from the Gay Community" — is "satirical."

What's the background?

The SFGMC posted the video on its YouTube page July 1. It begins with one singer introducing the tune by saying, "As we celebrate Pride and progress we've made over these past years, there's still work to be done. So to those of you out there who are still working against equal rights, we have a message for you."

Then the singing begins:

You think we're sinful
You fight against our rights
You say we all lead lives you can't respect
But you're just frightened
You think that we'll corrupt your kids
If our agenda goes unchecked
Funny, just this once, you're correct

We'll convert your children
Happens bit by bit
Quietly and subtly
And you will barely notice it
You can keep them from disco
Warn about San Francisco
Make 'em wear pleated pants
We don't care
We'll convert your children
We'll make them tolerant and fair

The full chorus also sings:

We're coming for them
We're coming for your children
We're coming for them
We're coming for them
We're coming for your children
For your children

While the original clip is not viewable, it has been posted elsewhere:

"A Message From the Gay Community Performed by the San Francisco Gay Mens Chorus" www.youtube.com

'Threats of harm'

Yahoo Life wrote that "not everyone got the joke" and said that after the video "went viral" it "was then lambasted by conservative media for its child-focused theme, even prompting death threats against the vocalists ..." The "conservative media" link is for TheBlaze's Wednesday story; the "lambasted" link is for Rod Dreher's piece in the American Conservative.

Verdugo told Yahoo Life that it was a "difficult decision" to set the video to private "because we are an organization whose mission really is both artistic but also activist. We are the first gay men's chorus on the planet. … We are a social justice organization … so it's very difficult for us to decide to take down that video. But the soloists — who are not in the chorus but, in their own right, rising Broadway stars, have received death threats."

Yahoo Life also reported that "critics have used various Twitter accounts to take screenshots of the chorus, numbered the individuals and created spreadsheets, harassing them, even at their places of work."

"All over a satirical piece of music," Verdugo said, according to the outlet.

The SFGMC on Thursday issued a statement on the issue that reads, in part:

The far-right conservative media found our "Message..." video and have taken it as their cause. This has all happened in the last 24 hours and it continues to pick up steam. They have taken the lyrics out of context to support a narrative that suits their intolerant and hateful needs. It is obvious the tongue-in-cheek humor is lost on many. As a result, we have seen the user comments on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram become increasingly alarming. Emails to individuals and the chorus office are vitriolic – including threats of harm.

We feel the first action we must take to keep everyone involved with the chorus and the making of this video safe is to turn the video to private. We are communicating with law-enforcement both locally and nationally. We will not be threatened and we follow legal steps to act on those threats. We will always accept others who may hold different values, but when violence is their choice of expression, since 1969 we have not backed down. After decades of children being indoctrinated and taught intolerance for anyone who is "other," from using the Bible as a weapon to reparative therapy, it's our turn. We have dedicated ourselves to being role models, teaching, and spreading the message of love, tolerance and celebration through our music.

Our second action is to work to control the narrative. The video is being illegally copied and placed on YouTube, Instagram and other websites. Others have the right to follow Fair Use laws, but that is not what is happening here. Therefore, our social media and marketing staff are working around the clock to alert moderators at YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and to file DMCA's (take down of websites featuring stolen content). So far, this has been very successful.

Interesting conclusion

Verdugo told Yahoo Life he didn't think the song would elicit the degree of negative reaction it did.

"It's a lightning rod," he acknowledged to the outlet, in regard to what Yahoo Life said were "the risks of referencing anything gay and child-related in the same breath."

However, Verdugo also told the outlet that the song "came from a very innocent place. We weren't trying to antagonize anyone … we never thought it would — and perhaps that's on us."

At least one child drag queen likes the song

Remember child drag queen Desmond Is Amazing? The kid made many headlines over the past few years in relation to his drag pursuits.

Well, Desmond happens to love the SFGMC's song and said so on Facebook:

Pushback

Despite the SFGMC's vehement defense of the song, not everyone is buying it.

Becket Adams, a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner, took issue with the response of gay men's chorus and let them have it:

“you misunderstood us when we said verbatim ‘we’re coming for your children.’”lmaooo “also, we’re not going to ba… https://t.co/M4BSYGS3cK

— tsar becket adams (@BecketAdams) 1625834798.0

Dreher in his piece noted that "what these smart-asses in San Francisco did was make a satirical song and video that would win them plaudits in their own circles by making fun of normies ... the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus said the quiet part out loud. Sure, they say in the video that they're talking about converting them into being 'tolerant and fair,' but that is not at all how it will be received. ..."

He added, "The contempt these men show towards parents who don't think like them is at the heart of this. The taunting that says, whatever your religious beliefs, we are going to steal the hearts and minds of your children, and there is nothing you hicks can do to stop us. It gives the game away. It gives the game away for them, and for all their corporate allies."

'We'll convert your children': San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus delivers musical message to those who work against 'gay agenda'



The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus last week released a music video titled, "A Message From the Gay Community." The video begins with one singer introducing the tune by saying, "As we celebrate Pride and progress we've made over these past years, there's still work to be done. So to those of you out there who are still working against equal rights, we have a message for you."

With that he begins to sing over a lone piano:

You think we're sinful
You fight against our rights
You say we all lead lives you can't respect
But you're just frightened
You think that we'll corrupt your kids
If our agenda goes unchecked
Funny, just this once, you're correct

Image source: YouTube screenshot

We'll convert your children
Happens bit by bit
Quietly and subtly
And you will barely notice it
You can keep them from disco
Warn about San Francisco
Make 'em wear pleated pants
We don't care
We'll convert your children
We'll make them tolerant and fair

A second singer then appears and says, "At first I didn't get why you'd be so scared of us turning your children into accepting, caring people — but I see now why you'd have a problem with that."

Then the pair duets:

Just like you worried
They'll change their group of friends
You won't approve of where they go at night
(to protests)
Oh and you'll be disgusted
(so gross)
When they start finding things online
That you've kept far from their sight
(like information)
Guess what?
You'll still be alright!

Image source: YouTube screenshot

We'll convert your children
Reaching one and all
There is really no escaping it
'Cause even grandma likes RuPaul
And the world's getting kinder
Gen Z's gayer than grindr
Learn to love
Learn to vogue
Face your fate!
We'll convert your children
Someone's gotta teach them not to hate

Then the full ensemble kicks in:

We're coming for them
We're coming for your children
We're coming for them
We're coming for them
We're coming for your children
For your children
Your children will care about
Fairness and justice for others
Your children will work to convert
All their sisters and brothers
Then soon we're almost certain
Your kids will start convertin' you!

Image source: YouTube screenshot

The gay agenda is coming home
The gay agenda is here!
But you don't have to worry
'Cause there's nothing wrong with
Standing by our side
(The gay agenda)
Get on board in a hurry
Because the world always needs
A bit more pride
(The gay agenda)
Come on, try a little pride!
We'll convert your children
Then we'll turn to you
Giving up the fear inside
Is freeing like you never knew!
Go and see San Francisco!
Go and turn up that disco!
You'll forget you were ever upset
We'll convert your children
And make an ally of you yet!
We'll make an ally of you yet!
We'll make an ally of you yet!

Anything else?

As to whether or not the music video represents actual intentions or is a joke — or maybe is somewhere in between — one Facebook post from the SFGMC calls it a "heartwarming and hilarious piece."

Another post about the song introduces it by saying, "Pride Month may be over, but the Gay Agenda never stops!" The sentence is followed by winking emjoi.

But you can decide for yourself.

"A Message From the Gay Community" Performed by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorusyoutu.be

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Crawford and Lee said they "were told by multiple music promoters that they would pass on the album, even though they have promoted our previous releases."