An AI-generated video showing Pope Francis in Heaven with the likes of Michael Jackson, Princess Diana and the Queen has sparked fury online, and has been branded ‘sickening’ and ‘blasphemous in the extreme’.
The late pontiff, who was buried on Saturday, is featured meeting various celebrities during the 31-second clip, which has since gone viral and been viewed a staggering 38million times online.
Dubbed ‘Pope Francis meeting some old friends’, it shows the beaming 88-year-old embracing Queen Elizabeth II, boxing legend Muhammad Ali and meeting late British pop stars Amy Winehouse and One Direction’s Liam Payne.
The former religious leader is also seen chuckling with the likes of comedian Robin Williams – who took his own life in 2014 – American rapper Tupac Shakur, who was killed in a drive-by shooting in 1996, and Fast and Furious star Paul Walker.
But it’s Pope Francis’ encounter with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, that sparked outrage. Before his death in 2009, Jackson was accused of being a paedophile and sexually assaulting a number of children at his Neverland ranch in California.
Taking to X, one person raged: ‘This is one of the most sickening and horrendous things I’ve ever seen. How dare you desecrate the Pope’s memory like this!!
‘And to show him in “heaven” with Michael Jackson who is arguably a paedophile is blasphemous in the extreme.’
Another person on X fumed the video was ‘disgustingly creepy’, while a third said it was ‘weird and lowkey disrespectful’.
Pope Francis has featured in an AI-generated video meeting dead celebrities and former royals ‘in Heaven’. He is seen embracing the late Queen Elizabeth II and basketball star, Kobe Bryant
American rapper Mac Miller and Princess Diana are then seen sharing a similar embrace
This image of the late Pope appearing alongside King of Pop, Michael Jackson (left) sparked anger online
One person branded the AI video as ‘blasphemous in the extreme’ in a post on X
‘I know it was meaning to be heartbreaking or whatever but this kind of stuff has to stop,’ one commentator wrote, while another person online dubbed the video ‘definitely the most dystopian thing I’ve seen today’.
The clip starts with Queen Elizabeth II, American basketball star Kobe Bryant and Argentine World Cup-winning footballer Diego Maradona – who notoriously knocked England out of the 1986 World Cup with his ‘hand of God’ goal – hugging the Pope.
American rapper Mac Miller and Princess Diana are then seen sharing a similar embrace, before the pontiff meets Jackson and former Disney child star, Cameron Boyce.
English singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Chadwick Boseman then enjoy a face-to-face with the Pope, who goes on to hug Brazilian footballing icon, Pelé, and Jumanji star, Robin Williams.
Actor Paul Walker – who died in a car crash in 2013 – and Liam Payne, who plunged to his death from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires in October last year, then share a moment with the late pontiff.
Towards the end, Francis is seen hugging renowned British scientist Stephen Hawking and boxing icon Muhammad Ali – whose real name is Cassius Clay – before sharing an intimate moment with Pope John Paul II, who served as pontiff between 1978 and 2005.
But many viewers found it baffling that Hawking, who didn’t believe in heaven, was in the AI video – and still using his wheelchair.
The Pope is seen with Stephen Hawking and boxer Muhammad Ali
In another clip, he appears beaming alongside Fast and Furious star Paul Walker, One Director’s Liam Payne and US rapper Tupac Shakur, who was killed in a drive-by shooting
Social media users lashed out over the video showing the late Pope with celebs in ‘Heaven’
Pope Francis on Easter Monday at the age of 88 and the world has been waiting with bated breath to see who will succeed him (pictured in 2014)
‘Why is Hawking still disabled in paradise,’ one wrote, while another added: ‘This is not cute, but creepy, why would he be old friends with people he never met like Kobe or Paul Walker. Wouldn’t he rather be with his family?’
‘Too bad when u die there isn’t anything,’ wrote a user, while another added: ‘Can we not use AI for dead people? This is weird.’
Others slammed the video maker’s ‘infatuation’ with celebrities. ‘Bro this is so weird OMG. You people are so infatuated with celebrities. Please get some HELP,’ wrote one person.’
While one person bluntly said: ‘This is one of the creepiest f***ing things I’ve ever seen.’
Pope Francis was buried in Rome following a ceremony at the Vatican on Saturday morning, which had been watched by world leaders and royalty, including Sir Keir Starmer, Donald Trump and Prince William.
The 88-year-old was the first South American pontiff and served as the head of the Catholic church for 12 years.
He died on Monday, April 21, following months of ill health.
