Who is Vic Miorana? Halloween decoration of headless Jesus and 'Hillary's emails' tombstone sparks outrage
BUCKTOWN, NEW ORLEANS: A two-story Halloween display featuring a blood-stained Satan holding the severed head of Jesus, alongside a tombstone reading 'Hillary's emails', has ignited a firestorm of controversy in the quiet Bucktown neighborhood of New Orleans.
The macabre exhibit, created by resident Vic Miorana, has not only raised eyebrows but also sparked a heated debate about freedom of expression and respect for religious beliefs.
Known for his elaborate Halloween decorations, Vic Miorana has spent months and thousands of dollars crafting this year's display, which, he claims, is meant to "make people scared" and "uncomfortable."
In an interview with WWL-TV, Miorana defended his creation, saying, "We have a little religious theme here. We wanted to make people scared, to make them a little uncomfortable."
Vic Miorana's outraged neighbors
The controversial display has elicited strong reactions from his neighbors. Many residents found it deeply offensive, blasphemous, and disrespectful to their religious beliefs.
One neighbor remarked, "It's horrible to our religion, it's blasphemy, it's not right. Any other religion would have a problem with this."
Rachel Flanagan, a concerned mother, was alerted to the display by her children, who attend a nearby Catholic high school. She expressed her shock to NOLA.com, saying, "It's appalling."
Despite the outcry and threats he's received, Miorana remains steadfast in his decision not to remove the display.
He cited his First Amendment rights, stating, "Freedom of speech is freedom of speech, whether it's political or whether it's your freedom of expression to create things like these decorations, it's all protected."
The Halloween decorations, which span Miorana's yard on Seminole Avenue, Metairie, include a nun and a priest hanging on crosses with skeletal worshippers facing the unsettling scene.
At night, flashing lights and haunted organ music add to the eerie ambiance.
One particularly controversial aspect of the display was a flamethrower that emitted fire from the figure of Jesus, which Miorana eventually disabled after realizing it violated a burn ban.
Additionally, a tombstone reading 'Hillary's emails' was included, making a political statement referencing the Democratic presidential hopeful's infamous deleted emails.
Social media debates over Miorana's work
The debate over Miorana's display has spilled onto social media, where he has posted pictures and updates about his Halloween exhibit.
While he has faced backlash from some quarters, he also has a significant number of supporters who appreciate his creative efforts.
Frank Turan, another neighbor, stated, "Every year he goes way overboard on trying to make these displays. Everyone seems to like it, except a few people."
However, not everyone is supportive of Miorana's right to express himself in this manner.
"Sorry to see such a display it is offensive to many and unnecessary," one commented on Facebook
"This is blasphemy. You must be an Atheist, but you knew before you did it. It's shameful really...my opinion," another added.
"I saw your report of not breaking any laws. But what about people's hearts? Are these decorations more important than maintaining a friendly relationship? Are they more important than keeping a job?" someone else wrote.
"The judgment coming for him for this will be swift," another chimed in.
That said, Jefferson Parish code enforcement visited Miorana's yard to assess whether the display violated local ordinances.
Their findings, however, did not indicate any violations of specific regulations.
Jefferson Parish president Cynthia Lee Sheng acknowledged the offensive nature of the display, stating, "We are not aware of any local ordinances that specifically address this type of situation; however, this neighborhood display is clearly offensive and certainly not in the spirit of a family-friendly Jefferson Parish Halloween."
