Netflix has been slammed for its ‘dangerously misleading’ new series about the ‘revered’ Mormon prophet Brigham Young.
The Western drama American Primeval follows a mother on the run during the horrific Utah War of 1857, along with a group of Latter-Day Saints, all trying to survive the American frontier.
The six-part series revisits the Mountain Meadows Massacre, where Latter-Day Saint militiamen and American Indian allies slaughtered around 120 emigrants.
At the time, Brigham was serving as the president of the church, but his direct involvement in the horrendous massacre remains unclear.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) issued a statement on Friday about the depiction of the historical event, and although they did not specifically mention the series, the institution said a new show ‘presents a fictionalized interpretation of events in mid-19th century Utah.’
‘While historical fiction can be illuminating, this drama is dangerously misleading. Brigham Young, a revered prophet and courageous pioneer, is, by any historical standard, egregiously mischaracterized as a villainous, violent fanatic,’ LDS said.
‘Other individuals and groups are also depicted in ways that reinforce stereotypes that are both inaccurate and harmful.’
The church also said that it has long acknowledged the tragedy of the event, but has made ‘significant steps to uncover and share the full truth of what happened to promote healing.’
The new Netflix series American Primeval has been slammed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) for being ‘dangerously misleading’, specifically with its depiction of Mormon prophet Brigham Young. (Pictured: Kim Coated as Brigham Young (L) in the show)
The Salt Lake City, Utah church (pictured) released a statement on Friday about the depiction of the historical event, and although they did not specifically mention the series, LDS said ‘a recently released streaming series presents a fictionalized interpretation of event s in mid-19th century Utah’
‘As to the Mountain Meadow Massacre, which the series inaccurately portrays as reflective of a whole faith group, the Church has long acknowledged and condemned this horrific tragedy. It has also taken significant steps to uncover and share the full truth of what happened and promote healing,’ LDS added.
The church went on to quote President Russell M. Nelson, who said ‘The Savior’s message is clear: His disciples build, lift, encourage, persuade, and inspire—no matter how difficult the situation. True disciples of Jesus Christ are peacemakers. … Peacemaking is a choice. … I urge you to be a peacemaker, now and always.’
Nelson was a member of the LDS Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for almost 34 years before becoming president.
The Salt Lake City native also served as the quorum president from 2015 to 2018.
The church also went on to acknowledge that they are aware of the ‘fascination’ some people in the media have with LDS, ‘but regret that portrayals often rely on sensationalism and inaccuracies that do not fairly and fully reflect the lives of our Church members or the sacred beliefs that they hold dear.’
Just days before the church reacted to the new show, Berg told The Hollywood Reporter that his depiction of the Mountain Meadows Massacre is not ‘literal.’
‘It’s not a literal depiction of the Meadows Massacre because those massacres took place over three days and ours takes place very quickly,’ Berg said.
‘I’ve heard some of the pushback, but I haven’t heard anyone from the Mormon side deny that the Meadows Massacre happened and that Mormons did it.’
LDS President Russell M. Nelson (pictured) was a member of the LDS Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for almost 34 years before taking his role
Just days before the church reacted to the new show, director Peter Berg (middle) told The Hollywood Reporter that his depiction of the Mountain Meadows Massacre is not ‘literal.’
Berg went on to give an example of the dramatized parts of his new series, including the mention of some Mormon women being taken by Native Americans.
‘We have a sequence where some Mormon women are abducted by Native Americans and that did not happen around the Meadows Massacre, but it did happen,’ the director told the outlet.
‘There are many documented accounts of Natives taking people. We never said we’re making a documentary and that it’s all based 100 percent on fact.’
Despite the backlash the show has faced, many Netflix subscribers have raved about the series.
The premise itself promised violence, with the whole drama set around a grim 10-month conflict, as the war proved inconclusive.
It starred GLOW breakout star Betty Gilpin as mother-on-the-run Sara and True Detective actor Taylor Kitsch as lone wolf Isaac.
Bad Blood actor Kim Coates plays Young in the series and previously told Netflix’s Tudum that the role ‘was the offer of a lifetime.’
‘I’d long wanted to work with Pete Berg. I knew how difficult it was going to be, inhabiting this true historical figure,’ Coates said.
The six-part series revisits the Mountain Meadows Massacre, where Latter-day Saint militiamen and American Indian allies slaughtered around 120 emigrants
Despite the backlash the show has faced, many Netflix subscribers have raved about the show, full of shoot-outs, axe fights and gruesome battles around every corner
‘We actors like to throw around the phrase “I’ve never played someone like this before,” but I genuinely have never played a character like Brigham Young before, someone who people are immediately aware of just by their name.’
There were shoot-outs, axe fights and gruesome battles around every corner and viewers have taken to social media to express their shock at the levels of violence.
One X user said: ‘A raw and unflinching portrayal of the brutal realities of frontier life, American Primeval is not for the faint-hearted but delivers a compelling, if grim, narrative.’
Another added: ‘AMERICAN PRIMEVAL hits Netflix today and while I thought the performances are good — Shea Whigham in particular — the mini-series feels mucky to watch due to the sheer amount of seemingly needless violence and sludge brown color it’s graded with. Real mixed bag.’
A third posted: ‘American Primeval is a brutal ride from start to finish.’
One viewer said: ‘A visceral journey into America’s brutal past, American Primeval captures the raw essence of survival and conflict with a relentless intensity.’
Another joked: ‘American Primeval makes me appreciate living in the 21st century lol.’
