The New York priest who allowed Sabrina Carpenter to film a music video in church is additionally stripped of his duties

NEW YORK (AP) – The leader of the New York church where pop star Sabrina Carpenter filmed provocative scenes for a music video was stripped of his duties Monday after church officials said an investigation uncovered other instances of mismanagement.

Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello has been relieved of “any pastoral supervision or management role” at his church located in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, Bishop Robert Brennan announced in a statement issued by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn.

The investigation came after it was revealed that Gigantiello made unauthorized financial transfers to a former top adviser in the administration of New York Mayor Eric Adams, who is under investigation on corruption charges, Brennan said.

“I regret to share information about Alvarez’s investigations and Marsal and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP uncovered evidence of serious violations of diocesan policies and protocols at the Parish of the Annunciation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel,” the bishop said. “In order to protect public trust and church funds, I have appointed Bishop Witold Mroziewski as parish administrator.”

Gigantiello had her administrative privileges revoked after Carpenter’s music video for her hit “Feather” sparked criticism last November.

The priest has now also been cut off from his pastoral duties, giving Mroziewski “full authority over the parish,” including in liturgical matters, although Gigantiello will still be able to celebrate Mass. with Mroziewski’s consent, said Adriana Rodriguez, spokeswoman for the diocese.

Brennan, who oversees Catholic churches in the New York boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, said he also fired a deacon who was appointed interim administrator during the investigation. He said the deacon used racist or other offensive language during private conversations in the parish office that were secretly recorded on Gigantiello’s orders.

Gigantiello did not respond Monday to emails and Facebook messages seeking comment.

The “Feather” music video, released on October 31, 2023, follows men behaving badly towards Carpenter before meeting their gruesome deaths.

At certain points in the film, the former Disney Channel star is driven up to the landmark brick church in a pink hearse and then dances in front of the church’s ornate altar while wearing a short black dress and black veil and a colorful set of faux coffins.

The diocese said at the time that it was “appalled” and that proper filming procedures had not been followed.

In addition to relieving Gigantiello of his administrative duties, Brennan also relieved him of his fundraising duties as vicar for diocesan development and performed a spiritual rite to restore the sanctity of the church.

Last November, Gigantiello said in a letter to parishioners that agreeing to the filming was an “error of judgment” and maintained that he was not present at the time and did not realize how provocative the photos would be.

On Monday, Brennan said a broader audit had uncovered other cases of administrative irregularities.

These include an ongoing investigation into Gigantiello’s use of a church credit card for “significant” personal expenses, he added.

Brennan said that between 2019 and 2021, the prelate also transferred $1.9 million in parish funds to bank accounts linked to Frank Carone, Adams’ former chief of staff.

The bishop said Gigantiello failed to obtain prior approval for the transactions and failed to properly document them, in violation of the diocese’s investment policies and protocols.

According to Brennan, Carone’s law firm repaid the $1 million in funds with approximately 9% interest. Gigantiello also demanded early repayment of the remainder, but without the significant interest stipulated in the loan notes, the bishop said.

Federal investigators subpoenaed the Brooklyn church for information about Carone and Gigantiello’s financial dealings, although neither was charged.

Brennan stressed that the diocese is “fully committed” to cooperating with law enforcement in their investigations.

Carone did not respond to an email seeking comment, but Gigantiello defended his management, telling local news site The City that the investments were legal and had generated a significant return for the church.

Meanwhile, the uproar caused by her music video was not lost on Carpenter.

She highlighted the issue during a concert at Madison Square Garden in late September, just days after Adams became the first New York mayor to be charged while in office.

– Shit, what now? she said cheekily to the crowd in Manhattan. “Should we talk about how I impeached the mayor?”

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