Catholic League Slams JAY-Z's 'Family Feud' Video

The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, an organization that is not officially connected to the church, is condemning JAY-Z and Beyoncé’s “Family Feud” video, which was partially shot inside of a church.

“Is it anti-Catholic? No, it is not a bigoted assault. Indeed, it pales next to JAY-Z’s relentlessly racist (and anti-black) lyrics,” said the Catholic League’s controversial president Bill Donohue. “But it is nonetheless gratuitous as well as exploitative, just the kind of thing we would expect from this genius couple.”

Donohue’s statement — which also confuses actor Trevante Rhodes for JAY-Z — appears to be based on the trailer for the Ava DuVernay-directed short film of a visual, which dropped Friday (Dec. 29).

The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights “has no formal connection to the church and no spokesman except Mr. Donohue,” according to The New York Times. Donohue has been described as “contentious” and combative, with an “immense ability to be offended.”

Once parodied on “South Park” for his often-controversial public criticisms, Donohue has bashed rappers in the past. In 2012, for instance, he lambasted Nicki Minaj for a Grammy performance that referenced religious imagery. “Whether Minaj is possessed is surely an open question,” he wrote at the time, “but what is not in doubt is the irresponsibility of The Recording Academy.”

The star-studded video for “Family Feud” was released to critical acclaim, featuring appearances from Hollywood stars like Michael B. Jordan, Omari Hardwick, Jessica Chastain, Thandie Newton, America Ferrera, Brie Larson, Rosario Dawson, Rashida Jones, Mindy Kaling, and Constance Wu, among others.