Luxury car manufacturer Porsche has caused outrage among Christians after releasing an advertisement celebrating 60 years of its iconic Porsche 911, which appears to have edited out the Cristo Rei statue of Jesus Christ which overlooks Lisbon, Portugal.
Porsche, known for its fast and expensive sports cars, released a campaign last week to commemorate six decades of the Porsche 911 and promote its special edition model, the 2024 Porsche 911 S/T. The advertisement also included a two-and-a-half-minute video showcasing the evolution of the Porsche 911.
During the video, a Porsche 911 drives across the screen in front of the backdrop of the bridge and river that the Cristo Rei statue overlooks. However, the 92-feet-tall statue of Jesus Christ was nowhere to be seen atop the concrete 269-feet-tall pedestal. This edit was first identified by an astute social media user whose post went viral.
In response to the backlash, Porsche stated, “In an early version of a film created in Europe, the Cristo Rei Statue does not appear. We are truly sorry and can fully understand the hurt this has caused. This film has been removed.”
The removal of the Cristo Rei statue is a major issue for many Christians, and the tone-deafness of Porsche executives cannot be ignored. The disrespect shown to the religious symbol is just another example of the anti-Christian sentiment which seems to pervade Western culture.
The 2024 Porsche 911 S/T model being promoted in the advertisement comes at a hefty price and features 518 horsepower, can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, and has a top speed of 186 mph on a track in summer tires. However, is it really worth promoting your products at the expense of one of the most significant religious symbols in the world?
Porsche’s website describes the new model as a car that “combines the essence of 60 years of the 911 with its puristic lightweight design, its breathtaking GT high-performance, and significantly reduced sound insulation. The result is an unprecedented combination of purism, agility, and unique driving dynamics.”
Despite this, it is clear that the new car has caused offense among Christians after the blatant edit of a religious symbol. The Porsche 911 was first introduced in September 1963, but the lack of respect shown for religious icons is a relatively new phenomenon. It is time for companies to consider the impact they have on their customers and communities before disrespecting their beliefs in the name of advertising.
Here’e the company’s updated ad showing the statue:
