Jason Momoa is receiving some major backlash for a Instagram post. The content of the post offended many, and the actor had to issue an apology. It all started when he shared pictures of him in a group, below the famous Michelangelo paintings in the renowned Sistine Chapel. This triggered a number of angry tweets, calling him out for taking photographs in a sacred chapel. 

Sharing the image, he wrote a caption that read, “I LOVE YOU ITALY what a beautiful start to our day off enjoying ROMA.” One social media user dropped a comment saying, “We can’t take pics but [of course] celebrities can. Nothing against Jason (I adore him) but it’s not fair.” Another wrote, “So wait… pics in here are prohibited yet somehow, although I love you [Momoa], you can have the room cleared out just for you and take group pics. I mean, just wow, the privilege of famous folks. Goes to show what BS places like this are with their silly rules.”

Soon after the messages started coming in, Jason Momoa addressed the matter and apologised via a video. He said, “I found people who wanted to take pictures with me, which is very odd, during a trip to the Vatican with all this splendour, and they want to take pictures with me, which I don’t get, but regardless, I did.”

“I was very respectful, and I asked for permission—what I thought would be OK. I would never want to do anything to disrespect someone’s culture, so if I did, I apologise. It wasn’t my intention. I definitely paid to have that private moment and gave a nice donation to the church,” Momoa added. 

So why did the picture cause such a furore? Well, The Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Palace is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vatican City and Rome. The frescoes by Michelangelo on the ceiling, collectively known as the Sistine Ceiling painted by Michelangelo, illustrate incidents and personages from the Old Testament. Strict rules have been established for visitors including things like they aren’t allowed to wear shorts, short skirts, sleeveless shirts or bare shoulders. People are also barred from taking photographs or film inside the chapel. Mobile phone are also strictly barred here.

Jason Momoa was in Rome to shoot for the 10th installment in the Fast & Furious film saga, Fast X.

(Featured Image Credits: Instagram @jasonmomoa)