Original Apple TV series Your Friends and Neighbors has sparked controversy with a recent episode featuring actor Jon Hamm. The scene involved a break-in at a Catholic church where characters engaged in sexual activity and treated the Eucharist casually.
Veteran actor and singer Robert Davi expressed frustration over Hollywood’s disregard for the Catholic faith, questioning, “Ask Jon Hamm if he’d dare to do the same with Muhammad.”
In episode six of the first season, Hamm’s character is seen stealing a Eucharist host from the church’s tabernacle, with other characters casually snacking on it.
A letter addressed to Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, from Josh Mercer of the Catholic advocacy group, Catholic Vote, criticized the portrayal, saying, “A man jokingly mentions how he consumes the body of Christ.” The group’s letter highlighted the inappropriate behavior in the scene, mentioning characters pretending to eat the hosts while engaging in romantic antics.
Catholic Vote has called for an apology and the removal of what they deem “sacrilegious” and “blasphemous” content from the show.
The group questioned whether Apple would treat other religions similarly, especially considering their significant representation among Catholic advocates in the country.
Mercer’s letter stressed the belief that the Eucharist is sacred, embodying the essence of Christ, and criticized the scene as unnecessary to the plot, suggesting it was merely an attempt to mock Catholicism.
“It’s even more disheartening as Catholics celebrate the recent election of a new Pope,” the letter continued.
Catholic Vote stated, “We represent millions of Catholics and are appalled that a major company like Apple would allow such blatant disrespect towards the largest religion in the world on a recognized platform.”
Mercer referenced Apple’s mission statement, which emphasizes the company’s commitment to respecting and valuing all lives.
The mission claims, “At Apple, we create a culture of collaboration that brings together diverse experiences and perspectives to create something meaningful.”
However, a point of contention arose: “How can you promote content that seemingly disrespects the Catholic faith while fostering a culture of dignity and respect? Would Apple accept similar portrayals involving Islam or Judaism?”
Catholic Vote emphasized their call for the episode’s removal, representing a collective voice among Catholics and Christians globally.
