At a young age, I remember seeing rosaries being worn as necklaces, which might not seem to be an issue, but that is the exact problem at hand. While a rosary is physically a string of beads or knots, it is not a necklace. It is spiritually so much more. The main media often uses aspects of various religions or cultures as a form of attracting publicity, which is most of the time called out by members of said culture. In 2019, Kim Kardashian received backlash for originally naming her shapewear brand Kimono. However, the kimono is a garment traditionally worn in Japan that has cultural significance. For this reason, many accused Kardashian of culturally appropriating, with her response to her disrespect being, “I understand and have deep respect for the significance of the kimono in Japanese culture” (New York Times, 2019). She ultimately renamed her brand to what it is today, SKIMS. While many supported the culture that was appropriated by Kim Kardashian, the glamorization, and sometimes even mocking, of Christianity by celebrities in the limelight is applauded. In Sabrina Carpenter’s “Feather” music video, she is seen standing on the altar of a Catholic church. While she received backlash from many Christians, her response was, “We got approval in advance,” regarding their usage of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Brooklynn, New York. Rather than apologizing for her disrespectful usage of the church, a place of worship for many individuals, Carpenter made light of the situation by wearing a shirt that stated, “And Jesus was a carpenter” (Rolling Stone, 2023). A Catholic church is not just a pretty building perfect for the background of a music video, but mainstream media begs to differ. Furthermore, Lil Nas X’s “Christianity Era” of his music is celebrated by many after his “Montero” music video, which pictured graphic scenes between X and the devil. X has posted pictures of him on a cross as well as photos of him dressed like Jesus with shots of wine and Eucharistic wafers. Which, in the Catholic faith, is the physical embodiment of Jesus Christ. While many might believe that Lil Nas X is trying to find his faith once again, this is clearly a ploy to gain publicity. There are many instances where Christianity was used as an aesthetic or disrespected in order to gain publicity and these mentioned are a select few. All religions and cultures deserve respect, and this includes Christianity within the media. While it is no easy feat, Christians have known for centuries that our religion will bring persecutors. However, we must rise above the hate and love all people, no matter what their words are towards us.
