Luxury car manufacturer Porsche has come under fire on social media for an advertisement filmed in Lisbon, Portugal that edited out the iconic Cristo Rei statue in the background.
Porsche recently launched a promotional video to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the German car company and introduce the 2024 Porsche 911 S/T model. The commercial includes scenes of a Porsche driving in multiple places, including a road in Lisbon, Portugal. However, it was what was missing that sparked controversy—the towering Cristo Rei statue was notably absent, with only the statue’s concrete pedestal visible.
The Cristo Rei statue is a revered depiction of Jesus Christ and stands as a symbol of gratitude for the Portuguese nation. The statue, built in the 1950s and based on the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, represents Portugal’s survival of World War II and the nation’s gratitude for avoiding the horrors that plagued most of Europe.
This intentional omission of this religious landmark did not go unnoticed by keen-eyed social media users, who quickly shared their observations and criticisms.
Initially, Porsche responded to the backlash by terming the removal of the statue as an unfortunate “mistake.” In a statement shared with Fox Business, Porsche expressed its regret for the edit, acknowledging the impact it caused. “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.”
Since receiving backlash for this edit, Porsche has released a revised, unedited version of the commercial that includes the historic landmark. The commercial can now be found on the company’s Youtube channel, with a pinned comment stating, “A message to our community: in a previously-uploaded version of the 911 S/T launch film, a landmark was removed. This was a mistake, and we apologize for any offense caused. Your comments on this video were appreciated.”
