Porsche – the German car manufacturer – digitally altered a giant statue of Jesus Christ from its latest advertisement campaign, prompting backlash online which has led to a bizarre explanation from the luxury brand.
“In a previously-uploaded version of the 911 S/T launch film, a landmark was removed. This was a mistake, and we apologise for any offence caused. The original film is online now,” a spokesman told the Mail Online, without explaining how exactly the iconic statue from Portugal could have been “accidentally” airbrushed out.
Hey, @Porsche , why did you erase the statue of Jesus Christ from your video filmed in Lisbon? pic.twitter.com/VxcfUBrN8D
— Alex B. (@maisumcarneiro) August 5, 2023
The original video shows a number of cars driving along the river in Lisbon and past 25 de Abril Bridge, where the 28 meters high (91,8 feet) statue – known as the “Cristo Rei,” or “Christ is King,” – was visibly removed from the background, leaving only the column of the monument remaining.
The ad, promoting the 60th anniversary of the company’s 911 sports car, was released on Wednesday earlier this week and coincided with “World Youth Day” in Lisbon, which is an event that brought Pope Francis and millions of Christian pilgrims from across the world to the city. Porsche is yet to issue a statement regarding the matter.
This is not the first occasion of Jesus being removed or altered to suit modern narratives in Europe. Earlier this year, an English church depicted Jesus as an illegal migrant.