Satanic Temple: Netflix Show Copied Our Statue

Says statue in 'Sabrina' show copied its specific design
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 30, 2018 4:05 PM CDT
Updated Oct 30, 2018 5:05 PM CDT
Satanic Temple: Netflix Show Copied Our Statue
This 2014 photo provided by The Satanic Temple shows a bronze Baphomet, which depicts Satan as a goat-headed figure surrounded by two children.   (The Satanic Temple via AP)

In one of the day's oddest headlines, the Satanic Temple is taking on a Netflix show. The Temple, a group that opposes the erosion of the separation of church and state, says The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina has copied its statue of Baphomet, the goat-headed idol it uses as an icon. "Yes, we are taking legal action regarding #TheChillingAdventuresofSabrina appropriating our copyrighted monument design to promote their asinine Satanic Panic fiction," tweeted Lucien Greaves, the Temple's co-founder, on Sunday. As CBR.com and other observers pointed out Friday, the day the show premiered, the Baphomet statue that sits at the center of the school for witchcraft attended by main character Sabrina looks similar to the Baphomet statue created by the Satanic Temple, which you can see in our gallery.

The Temple confirms to SFGate that its lawyer sent a letter to Netflix regarding the issue. "It's deeply problematic to us. (But) even if that wasn't the case we'd be obligated to make a copyright claim because that's how copyright works," said Greaves, explaining that if no claim is made now, the group's ability to make a claim in the future would be weakened. The issue is "distressing on the grounds that you have to worry about that association being made where people will see your monument and not know which preceded the other," thus "thinking that you arbitrarily decided to go with the Sabrina design for your Baphomet monument, which rather cheapens our central icon," he explained, adding that the series—the latest version of the comic-turned-TV-show Sabrina the Teenage Witch—is using the statue in a way that could stir fear of the Temple. He wants Netflix to remove the statue from the show. (The Temple has started an After School Satan Club for kids.)

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