Porsche, the luxury car brand, is under fire for an advertisement celebrating the 60th anniversary of its iconic Porsche 911 model.
The ad, which was meant to honor six decades of the famous car, caused an uproar after viewers noticed that a well-known statue of Jesus Christ, the Cristo Rei, had been removed from the footage. The statue overlooks the city of Lisbon, Portugal, and is a significant landmark.
The ad was launched last week and featured a variety of Porsche 911 models driving through scenic mountain roads.
At one point in the two-and-a-half-minute video, a Porsche 911 is shown driving near a bridge and river that the Cristo Rei statue typically overlooks. However, viewers quickly pointed out that while the statue’s pedestal was visible, the 92-foot-tall statue itself was missing.
Social media users, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), were quick to notice the edit, and the controversy rapidly gained traction online.
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 German automaker soon issued an apology, calling the statue’s removal a “mistake.” Porsche explained that the statue had been mistakenly omitted in an earlier version of the ad created in Europe. They assured the public that the video had been taken down and replaced with a new version that includes the full statue.
The Cristo Rei statue, which is similar in design to the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, stands with its arms outstretched over the Targus River, separating the cities of Almada and Lisbon.
The statue was completed in 1959 as a symbol of Portugal’s gratitude for being spared from the destruction of World War II due to the country’s neutrality.
Porsche’s initial oversight in the advertisement sparked widespread criticism, but the company has since taken steps to correct the error and address the concerns of those offended by the omission.
Johnny specializes in content related to Jesus, the Bible, and religious topics. With a profound understanding of spirituality, Johnny’s articles are both insightful and inspiring, guiding readers through the complexities of faith.
