New Orleans’ Bucktown Halloween Show Leaves Residents Furious Over Exhibit Featuring a Headless Jesus and a Tombstone That Reads ‘Hillary’s Emails’
A two-story exhibit of a blood-stained Satan holding the severed head of Jesus, accompanied by a gravestone reading “Hillary’s emails,” has sparked outrage in New Orleans’ Bucktown neighborhood.
Vic Miorana spent months and thousands of dollars on the gravestones and bloodied body organs, but some residents said he crossed the line.
“We have a little religious theme here. We wanted to scare people, make them a little bit uncomfortable,” Miorana said WWL TVs interview.
He said he would not remove the exhibit despite threats and complaints from neighbors.
“It’s terrible for our religion, it’s blasphemy, it’s not right,” said one resident. “Any other religion would have a problem with this.”
Vic Miorana’s two-story Halloween display of a blood-stained Satan, Jesus, a nurse and a priest hanging from crosses has sparked outrage in New Orleans’ Bucktown neighborhood
Miorana’s exhibit features a blood-stained Satan holding the severed head of Jesus, prompting neighbors to call it “blasphemy”
Below Satan is a crucifix from which the body of Jesus hangs. Miorana said the exhibit does not reflect the family’s personal or religious beliefs, but “just for fun.”
Miorana spent months and thousands of dollars on bloodied body organs and gravestones, including one that read ‘Hillary’s emails’
Miorana’s girlfriend of four years and the mother of his child broke up with him over the threats, he said.
Neighbors in Bucktown were shocked and called to have the decorations removed. Rachel Flanagan was alerted by her two children, who attend a nearby Catholic high school.
“It’s horrible,” Flanagan said NOLA.com after her children showed her photos.
Miorana replied, “To them it’s blasphemy, but blasphemy is not illegal.”
“This isn’t real… We have no prejudice against the church,” he said, adding that he was also raised Catholic.
The exhibit spanned Miorana’s garden on Seminole Avenue, Metairie. A nun and a priest are also seen hanging from crosses as skeleton worshipers watch the scene.
The decorations feature flashing lights at night and spooky organ music.
A flamethrower once shot fire from Jesus’ body until he realized it was violating a burn ban. A gravestone reads “Hillary’s emails” – referring to the Democratic presidential candidate’s infamous deleted emails.
The decorations also feature flashing lights at night and spooky organ music with a flamethrower that once radiated fire from Jesus’ body until he realized this violated a burn ban.
In a video shared by Miorana, skeleton worshipers are seen facing the scene
The exhibit spanned Miorana’s garden on Seminole Avenue, Metairie
He said he was exercising his First Amendment rights by making those decorations.
“Freedom of speech is freedom of speech, whether it’s political or whether it’s your freedom of speech to create things like these statements, it’s all protected.”
Paula Hennessey is among the Metairie residents who want the decorations removed.
‘We also have freedom of expression. I felt like we needed to voice our opinions as well,” Hennessey said.
She posted a photo of Miorana’s garden on Facebook and demanded it be removed.
“Please share, if enough of us complain maybe they can force him to take it down,” Hennessey wrote, saying the decorations are “disgusting.”
She claimed she faced harassment both publicly and privately after sharing the post about Miorana’s display.
According to a neighbor, photos of Miorana’s Halloween display are circulating among children who attend nearby Catholic high schools
Neighbors in Bucktown are outraged by the decorations and are calling for their removal
Rachel Flanagan (pictured), mother of two children who attend a nearby Catholic high school, said the display is “blasphemy” and “it’s not right.”
Paula Hennessey (left) said she has freedom of speech and wants to see the decorations moved. Another neighbor agreed
Although some neighbors consider his display blasphemous, Miorana said that “blasphemy is not illegal”
Miorana usually displays political messages in his house when it is not Halloween. He displays a Trump 2024 sign and a flag with an obscenity aimed at President Joe Biden.
Miorana has supporters who enjoy the display.
‘Every year he goes way over the line when creating these displays. Everyone seems to like it, except for a few people,” said Frank Turan, who also lives nearby.
Miorana’s social media posts attracted hundreds of comments and shares.
One commented: ‘This. Is. AWESOME!!! Those ‘offended Christians’ really know how to get you noticed. Now…you have to do something better next year!’
Code enforcement officers visited Miorana’s garden on Monday and found the exhibit did not violate local ordinances.
‘We are not aware of any local regulations that specifically address these types of situations; However, this neighborhood display is clearly offensive and certainly not in the spirit of a family-friendly Jefferson Parish Halloween,” Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said in a statement.