Kristen Bell was reportedly blindsided this week after discovering her voice had been utilized in a brand new Fox Information Media podcast concerning the lifetime of Jesus.
On Wednesday, Fox Information Media unveiled Fox Religion, a brand new non secular vertical geared toward ‘uplifting Christian storytelling,’ alongside its first main mission: The Lifetime of Jesus Podcast.
Billed as a sweeping 52-episode audio journey ‘via the life, teachings, and miracles of Jesus Christ,’ the sequence is hosted by Fox & Mates anchor Ainsley Earhardt and, in response to Fox’s press launch, options ‘over 100 celebrated actors,’ together with Bell as Mary Magdalene.
However Bell, finest recognized for The Good Place and Frozen, had no thought her identify — or her voice — could be hooked up to the mission.
Her representatives informed Rolling Stone that she solely discovered of the podcast when Fox reached out to ask her on Fox & Mates the day earlier than the general public announcement.
The actor, they mentioned, ‘by no means gave permission for her earlier audio efficiency to be reused or repurposed.’
That ‘earlier efficiency’ dates again fifteen years.
In 2010, Bell voiced Mary Magdalene in The Fact and Life Dramatized Audio Bible, a star-studded New Testomony audiobook that includes Brian Cox, Sean Astin, Neal McDonough, Malcolm McDowell, John Rhys-Davies, and Julia Ormond.
In line with publicly out there manufacturing data, a producer related to that authentic Bible mission has since joined Gulfstream Studios, which is licensing The Lifetime of Jesus Podcast to Fox Religion.
In different phrases, Fox’s ‘brand-new’ Jesus podcast seems to be a refurbished model of a a lot older property — with the identical recordings and the identical roster of actors, a lot of whom had been unaware of the reuse.
A consultant for Rhys-Davies, who voiced the Apostle Peter within the 2010 audiobook, confirmed to Rolling Stone that the actor additionally ‘solely discovered of the repurposed mission this week.’
In the meantime, Brian Cox — listed in Fox’s supplies because the voice of God — has beforehand described Fox Information as “the satan.”
Fox Religion’s rollout, which had been pitched as a high-profile enlargement into non secular media, now faces an early check of credibility.
The community has not but commented publicly on whether or not the unique performers had been notified or compensated for the reuse of their work.
Metro has contacted reps of Kristen Bell for remark.
Received a narrative?
In the event you’ve bought a celeb story, video or footage get in contact with the Metro.co.uk leisure staff by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff web page – we’d love to listen to from you.
MORE: Bruce Willis’ daughter Rumer shares heartbreaking replace on his dementia battle
MORE: Justin Trudeau is ‘a a lot happier particular person’ since Katy Perry relationship
MORE: Jaws star’s son reveals feud with well-known father after ‘difficult household drama’
