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Is Jesus a Swiftie? Internet divided after Rio mayor wants to dress Cristo Redentor in Taylor Swift shirt

'I love Taylor with all my heart but this is weird', a user tweeted

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: Eduardo Paes, the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro has stirred up controversy by expressing the intention to dress the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in a Taylor Swift shirt.

The announcement came as a response to fervent requests from Swifties, fans of the global pop sensation, who wished to see their idol's influence on the city's landmark in the wake of Era's Tour in Brazil. 

Rio's Mayor proposes unique tribute to Taylor Swift's 'Era's Tour'

The Mayor, known for embracing unique and often unconventional ideas, declared that he would formally approach the rector of Christ the Redeemer, Father Omar, with the proposal to project a Junior Jewels shirt onto the colossal statue.

This gesture is intended to honor Swift's 'Era's Tour,' a significant moment for fans of the Grammy-winning artist.

While some lauded the idea of celebrating pop culture, others vehemently opposed it, questioning the potential disrespect to the religious and cultural significance of the Christ the Redeemer statue.

Some netizens pointed out that the statue has been dressed in various football team shirts in the past, implying that the act might not be as unprecedented as it seems. 

Unveiling the historic significance of Christ the Redeemer

The historic Christ the Redeemer statue, also known as 'Cristo Redentor' in Portuguese, stands atop the Corcovado mountain and holds immense significance for Rio de Janeiro and the world.

Nine years in the making, finalized in 1931, this colossal art deco statue of Jesus Christ has become an iconic symbol of Brazil.

Crafted by the Polish-French sculptor Paul Landowski, the original concept depicted Christ holding a large cross in one hand and a globe in the other, earning the statue the nickname 'Christ with a ball'.

However, upon careful consideration of the landscape, the final design adopted an Art Deco style, portraying Christ with outstretched arms.

Adorned as one of the Wonders of the World, it attracts millions of visitors annually, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the city and serving as a testament to both religious faith and architectural brilliance.

Netizens react to controversial dressing of Christ the Redeemer in a Taylor Swift T-shirt

The proposal to dress the statue of Jesus in a Taylor Swift T-shirt was met with differing opinions on X (formerly Twitter).

A user tweeted, "We're witnessing history made in real time."

While one user questioned, "Isn’t it blasphemous?" another added, "Nope, they project team shirts often so not that big of a deal."

A user chimed, "Actually it's not! Also we would need the approval of the Father anyway."

"This is low key weird. Can they do something else please," stated a user.

One tweet read, "We need it," and another wrote, "Seems a bit sacrilegious? i love Taylor with all my heart but idk this is weird."

"Stop this is actually hilarious if it is real," noted another.