NEW YORK (AP) — Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, head of a church in Brooklyn where pop star Sabrina Carpenter filmed a controversial music video, has been relieved of his duties. This decision came after church officials discovered multiple instances of financial mismanagement during an investigation, as stated by Bishop Robert Brennan of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn.
The investigation was initiated after criticisms arose from Carpenter’s music video for her hit song “Feather”, which was released on October 31, 2023. The video features disturbing scenes where men mistreat Carpenter before meeting gruesome fates, and includes her pulling up to the church in a pink hearse and dancing in front of its altar in a striking outfit.
Following the backlash from the video, Brennan announced that Gigantiello has been stripped of all governance roles at Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Annunciation Parish. Bishop Witold Mroziewski has since been appointed as the new administrator of the parish, taking full control, particularly regarding liturgical matters. Although Gigantiello can still celebrate Mass, it must be authorized by Mroziewski, according to diocesan spokesperson Adriana Rodriguez.
Bishop Brennan also dismissed a deacon who had temporarily overseen the church during the investigation due to his use of racial slurs and offensive language, which were recorded without his knowledge at Gigantiello’s request.
In a public statement, Brennan expressed his sadness about the findings from Alvarez & Marsal and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP’s investigation, which revealed serious violations of diocesan policies. “To preserve public trust and protect church resources, we are making these leadership changes,” he said.
Gigantiello’s financial issues include unauthorized transfers amounting to $1.9 million from parish funds to accounts linked to Frank Carone, a former top aide of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The bishop noted that Gigantiello failed to get prior approval for these transactions, breaching the diocese’s investment protocols.
In addition, the monsignor reportedly misused a church credit card for significant personal expenses. Federal investigators are currently examining the financial interactions between Gigantiello and Carone, although neither party has been accused of illegal activities. The diocese remains committed to cooperating with law enforcement throughout these inquiries.
Carone’s law firm has returned $1 million of the transferred funds, plus interest. However, Bishop Brennan emphasized that the remainder of Gigantiello’s requests for early repayment lacked the necessary interest stipulated in the loan terms.
Despite the ongoing controversies, Gigantiello has maintained that his financial decisions were lawful and beneficial for the church. He previously described his approval of Carpenter’s music video filming as a “lapse in judgment,” claiming he was not present during the shoot and did not foresee its provocative nature.
Amid the fallout from the music video, Carpenter has addressed the situation with humor during performances. At a concert in Madison Square Garden, shortly after Mayor Adams’s indictment, she quipped, “Damn, what now? Should we talk about how I got the mayor indicted?”
Brennan reiterated that the diocese is determined to uphold its integrity and adhere to ethical standards, stressing the importance of safeguarding church funds and maintaining the trust of the community.
Gigantiello has yet to respond to inquiries seeking his comments on these developments.
This article has been updated to clarify the title of Carpenter’s song as “Feather,” not “Feathers.”
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