Kasia Smutniak, a Polish actress, has been cast as Mary in the sequel to Mel Gibson’s acclaimed film The Passion of the Christ. However, many Polish internet users are outraged by this casting choice, as Smutniak has previously taken part in demonstrations supporting the legalization of abortion.
A few days ago, media outlets reported that Kasia Smutniak would portray Mary in The Resurrection of the Christ, a sequel to Gibson’s famous The Passion of the Christ.
In recent days, one of Smutniak’s Instagram posts has drawn particular attention. The photo shows the actress with slogans written on her face: “human right,” “right to abortion,” “my body,” “sentence for women,” and the vulgar phrase “get the f*** out,” which was widely used during protests at that time. Smutniak also has a red lightning bolt drawn on her hand — the symbol of the Polish Women’s Strike movement.
“Mr. Jarosław Kaczyński,
— she wrote on Instagram at the time.
You have crossed the line many times in recent years. As a Polish woman who has spent most of her life abroad, I have watched this from afar. With sadness and fear, I’ve seen how your government’s decisions have slowly changed my image of Poland — how they’ve shaped society. What my parents fought for has now been raped and trampled. My children will bear the consequences of these enormous steps backward. As a mother, a woman, and a citizen of this country, I say ENOUGH!”
Polish users are now widely sharing Smutniak’s photos on platform X and calling on Mel Gibson to reconsider casting her as the mother of Jesus.
“Dear Mr. Mel Gibson, would you really want Kasia Smutniak to play Mary, the mother of Jesus? Please explain what all those slogans on her face mean. If she plays this role, more than half of Poles won’t watch your movie,”
wrote one user on X.