NEED TO KNOW
Kristen Bell is one of several actors alleging their voices are being used in a new religious podcast without their knowledge.
On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Fox News Media announced in a press release that it would be releasing The Life of Jesus Podcast on Nov. 30, after signing a licensing deal with Gulfstream Studios. The 52-episode podcast brings “stories from the New Testament to life through immersive storytelling,” per the release, with FOX & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt introducing each episode.
The podcast is said to feature “over 100 notable actors voicing characters of the Bible,” with Bell, Sean Astin, Brian Cox and Malcolm McDowell among the stars listed as part of the project.
Representatives for the actors, however, have denied that they had any knowledge that the podcast was being released.
Emma McIntyre/Getty; John Phillips/Getty; Ryan Emberley/Getty
A representative for Bell, 45, told Rolling Stone that the actress never gave permission for the audio to be repurposed, as she had recorded it for a “separate project 15 years ago.” Bell was also unaware of the podcast “until she was asked to promote it on Fox & Friends,” her rep told the outlet.
A rep for Cox had the same response, telling Deadline that the actor had no knowledge of the podcast and that he had recorded his portions for a 2010 project, The Truth & Life Dramatized Audio Bible: New Testament.
When asked for comment, Bell’s rep pointed PEOPLE to the statement Cox’s rep gave Deadline confirming he was unaware of the project.
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Similarly, a rep for McDowell, 82, told Entertainment Weekly that the actor “had no knowledge these recordings were being redistributed as a podcast until this week.” His audio was recorded for a different project 15 years ago, the rep said, adding, “This was long ago forgotten about.”
Fox News Media told PEOPLE in a statement, “Gulfstream Studios produced the Life of Jesus Podcast from The Truth and Life Dramatized Audio Bible, which was licensed by FOX News Audio, with full cooperation and participation by all the actors involved.”
Rolling Stone allegedly obtained a note from a producer on the podcast, which said that at least one actor was asked to “not mention that this audio New Testament Bible was produced years ago” as they would “like it to feel like something that was produced more recently.”
