The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is up in arms over Netflix's latest foray into historical drama with its miniseries "American Primeval." Church officials are waving red flags, claiming the show is a cocktail of fiction and exaggeration that does a disservice to their faith's history, particularly in its portrayal of Brigham Young, the religion's second president. Claiming the series paints Young as a "villainous, violent fanatic," the Church decried the production as "dangerously misleading," according to KUTV. Adding fuel to the fire, the Church said in a statement that it "mischaracterizes events in mid-19th century Utah," reflecting stereotypes that are "both inaccurate and harmful."
Set against the backdrop of the Utah War, "American Primeval" spotlights the event known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Historians have recorded this as an incident where a Church-associated militia slaughtered a California-bound wagon train from Arkansas. The Church has remained resolute in its condemnation of this massacre, urging that it should not reflect on the whole faith group, as per Deseret, where the Church reiterated its stance on promoting healing and "the full truth of what happened."
Church leaders are especially concerned with the broader implications of such storytelling, suggesting that inaccuracies could "foster animosity, hate and even violence." They believe that creating understanding and peace is more pressing in an already fractured public discourse, as detailed by ABC4. They quoted President Russell M. Nelson, advocating for peacemaking as the need of the hour.
Reacting to the backlash, director Peter Berg addressed some of the Church's criticism. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, which was covered by ABC4, Berg acknowledged the pushback, noting that while the show does take creative liberties, the underlying events depicted did take place. His stance suggests a different approach to storytelling, one that may not always align with the views of the subjects it portrays. While the Church may not have denied the historical occurrence of the massacre, their concern lies with the manner of its portrayal and its potential effects on public perception and sentiment.
While the Church has not specifically named all the media portrayals it finds objectionable, they've made it clear that across the Hollywood spectrum, some interpretations are seen as fair and accurate, while others indulge stereotypes or misrepresentations with real-life impacts. The Church's full response to the various portrayals was candidly summed up in their statement, as reported by ABC4, expressing regret over depictions leaning on sensationalism rather than reflecting the true lives and beliefs of Church members.
