A billboard advertising “God’s Not Dead 2” has been scrapped from showing at the Republican National Convention because it’s too Christian, a new report claims.
'God's Not Dead 2' billboard nixed at GOP Convention after being called "incendiary" https://t.co/5x1piTEYiz pic.twitter.com/CTU7YkYuAm
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 13, 2016
The billboard, 32 feet high and 60 feet wide, would have been draped over a downtown Cleveland building with a photo of Melissa Joan Hart and the quote, “I’d rather stand with God and be judged by the world than stand with the world and be judged by God.”
However, after much negotiation, the billboard company Orange Barrel Media has decided the message is too “incendiary.” (Side note: the movie stars Mike Huckabee.)
According to emails obtained by the Hollywood Reporter, the billboard company said it didn’t like the “judged by God” message because it was “too political” and “way too incendiary.”
The CEO of the movie’s distributor said he’s confused by the decision.
“I’m perplexed,” Steve Fedyski told the Reporter. “They dragged us along for weeks. Now, right up against the convention date, they say we aren’t approved, and they give us no logical rationale.” (RELATED: Pat Boone Just Slammed ‘SNL’ For ‘Diabolical’ Skit Mocking The Christian Faith)
“My speculation is that someone, somewhere didn’t want our message out. It’s hard to understand, considering we’ve used the same marketing on CNN and other national networks. They picked the building and the size, and advertised that it was available. They gave us a budget and deadlines and we met all of it, then they put us on hold. We missed a primary promotional opportunity.”
Meanwhile, an atheist group called the Freedom From Religion Foundation will have a billboard with a photo of Ronald Reagan and the quote, “We establish no religion in this country.”
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