The successful Christian drama, “The Chosen,” created and directed by Dallas Jenkins and distributed by Angel Studios, cleared up a misconception that the show is produced by Mormons on Facebook this week following a brewing uproar about the show’s roots and backing.
Angel Studios was co-founded by brothers Neal and Jeffrey Harmon, both whom belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), which has caused confusion for some fans of the show. Angel Studios is strictly a distribution partner for the show and doesn’t fund the show, according to Jenkins. Rather, ”The Chosen” is 100 percent funded by viewers.
“The Chosen” re-posted an image that has been circulating on social media on their Facebook page. The image depicts one of the show’s actresses and an unsourced caution: “This is not an anti-Christian show produced by Mormons. Be very careful about this show.”
“The Chosen” social media’s account responded with a statement addressing the image: “They happen to be correct in the first sentence…we’re not anti-Christian, we’re not produced by Mormons.”
The show took a subtle jab at the person who wrote the warning, saying, “We’re going to go out on a limb and guess there was a typo; which wouldn’t be surprising, as most of our hate comments aren’t written by English majors. That said, go ahead and be very careful with us—that advice is solid.”
One fan of the show replied to “The Chosen’s” post, saying, “I don’t think I’d watch it if it was produced by Mormons.”
The show responded to the fan: “Just so you know, there are a series of LDS short films about Jesus on YouTube. And they’re literal, word-for-word portrayals of the gospels. Should you not watch them?”
Another fan reacted to the previous fan’s comment, saying LDS church members worship Jesus. The fan said: “Oh and guess what? Dallas works with those from the Church and other faiths too. How about you be like Dallas and be more friendly to those of other faiths?”
“Us Mormons love this show,” an LDS church member chimed in. “Especially since our entire religion is centered on Jesus Christ.”
Among the many comments and replies, the fan who posted she wouldn’t watch if Mormons were producing the show wrote, “I don’t doubt that you love Jesus but Mormonism isn’t Christianity.”
“Good thing that isn’t for you to decide,” someone responded. Another person said, “We are very much a Christian faith. He is the head of our faith and it is the same church which existed in the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
At the time of publication, the post has over 3,000 comments, many from members of the LDS church members discussing the original comment by the fan who said she wouldn’t watch the show.
Jeffrey explained in a 2020 article why he, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was helping evangelicals create “The Chosen.” At that time, he shared that he had no control over the content in the show.
