Jim Caviezel, known for his portrayal of Jesus in “The Passion of the Christ,” surprised fans by showcasing his singing talent on December 3, 2023, at the House of Blues in Dallas, Texas, as part of Journalist and producer Raymond Arroyo’s “Christmas Merry & Bright” tour.
Caviezel, who played Tim Ballard in the film “Sound of Freedom,” earlier this year came out during the concert dressed as Santa Claus.
The New York Times Best Selling Author Arroyo, keeping the audience in suspense, revealed Caviezel’s identity and announced his “singing debut” in an exclusive Christmas duet saying, “You have sung Christmas songs about Jesus, but has he ever sung one for you? Here’s the next best thing.”
Stripping off the Santa suit, Caviezel, accompanied by Arroyo to perform “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with a big band jazz orchestra.
In an interview with ChurchPOP earlier in the year, Caviezel expressed his commitment to loving God and recounted a divine encounter in a movie theater that led him to pursue acting as a career.
“Our love for God’s children has got to be greater than our fear of evil, just as our love for Jesus got to be greater than our fear of the cross,” he said.
“The Passion of the Christ” directed by Mel Gibson was the fifth highest grossing film internationally when it was released in 2004 with a staggering $612 million in reciepts. It holds the title of the highest-grossing Christian film of all time, an achievement unaltered by inflation adjustments, and stands as the highest-grossing independent film ever made.
As of 2023, the film continues to hold the record as the highest-grossing R-rated film in the US domestic market, amassing $370.8 million. It earned three nominations at the 77th Academy Awards in 2005, specifically for Best Makeup, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score.
The success of “The Passion of the Christ” has paved the way for a highly anticipated sequel focused on the resurrection of Jesus according to the Hollywood Reporter
Just last week Jim Caviezel found himself at the center of a viral storm fueled by a fabricated feud with Robert De Niro. The false narrative, originating from a satirical piece in the Dunning-Kruger Times on December 5, which claimed that Caviezel refused to collaborate with De Niro, labeling him “awful” and “ungodly.” The story gained traction after being shared on X and has resurfaced despite clear debunking by Snopes and social media users.
Despite repeated fact checking websites debunking of the article, it was circulated on X, drawing attention to the baseless claim that Caviezel declined a role due to his alleged disdain for De Niro. On December 24, a user reposted the screenshot with the headline, perpetuating the misinformation and prompting divisive reactions.
While some online users have used the opportunity to criticize Caviezel, others have defended him and highlighted the fake news nature of the story. The controversy has sparked discussions comparing the career achievements of De Niro, a decorated actor, with the relevance of Caviezel.
One person tweeted, “Jim Caviezel refusing to work with Robert DeNiro is like Jada Pinkett refusing to go to the Oscars … well, you know, before she went to the Oscars.”
