Joseph Fiennes defends Michael Jackson role as ‘light-hearted’

Joseph Fiennes has defended his axed portrayal of Michael Jackson.

He played the late singer in an episode of Sky Arts’ Urban Myths series about a road trip Jackson, Marlon Brando and Dame Elizabeth Taylor were rumoured to have taken following the September 11 attacks.

But it was pulled after Jackson’s daughter Paris said clips made her want to “vomit”.

British actor Fiennes, 46, told Vulture: “It’s a satire, so we have to look at it through that lens. The depiction of the three characters is very satirical, comic, light-hearted, to examine the disconnect of iconic celebrity.”

Some alleged that Fiennes, a white actor, portraying the black singer was a form of “blackface”.

He said: “If it comes anywhere near that criminal and hateful sensibility, then I’m deeply regretful and embarrassed, but there’s a part of me that would love people to see it and get into a discussion.”

Paris hit out at the production on Twitter, calling it a “shameful portrayal” of her father.

In response to a tweet criticising the casting of a white actor, she replied: “It angers me to see how obviously intentional it was for them to be this insulting, not just towards my father, but my godmother Liz as well.

“Where is the respect? They worked through blood sweat and tears for ages to create such profound and remarkable legacies. Shameful portrayal.”