Priest who allowed Sabrina Carpenter to film music video in church relieved of duties

The leader of a 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 revealed other instances of mismanagement.

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

An investigation launched after the video revealed Gigantiello made unauthorized financial transfers to a former top aide in New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration who is being investigated on corruption charges, Brennan said.

“I am saddened to share that investigations conducted by Alvarez & Marsal and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP have uncovered evidence of serious violations of diocesan policies and protocols at Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Annunciation Parish,” the bishop said. “To protect the public trust and to protect church funds, I have appointed Bishop Witold Mroziewski as administrator of the parish.”

Gigantiello’s administrative powers were stripped after Carpenter’s video for her hit song “Feathers” sparked criticism last November.

Released on October 31, 2023, the “Feathers” music video revolves around men who misbehave with Carpenter before meeting gruesome deaths.

At points in the video, the former Disney Channel star is seen pulling up to the distinctive brick church in a pink hearse and then dancing in front of the church’s ornate altar wearing a short black dress and a black veil alongside a colorful array of mock coffins.

The diocese said at the time that it was “appalled” and that the correct procedures for admissions had not been followed.

The American pop star currently holds number two in the charts with Short n’Sweet.

The priest has now also been cut 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 approval, diocesan spokeswoman Adriana Rodriguez said.

Brennan, who oversees Catholic churches in the New York boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, said he also replaced a deacon who had been appointed as an interim administrator during the investigation. He said the deacon had used racist and other offensive language during private conversations in the parish office that had been secretly recorded at Gigantiello’s direction.

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

In addition to relieving Gigantiello of administrative duties, Brennan also dropped him from fundraising duties as development priest for the diocese and performed a spiritual ritual to restore the sanctity of the church.

In a letter to parishioners last November, Gigantiello said approving the footage was a “lapse in judgment” and maintained he was not present at the time and did not realize how provocative the footage would be.

On Monday, Brennan said a broader review revealed other instances of administrative impropriety.

Among them is an ongoing investigation into Gigantiello’s use of a church credit card for “substantial” personal expenses, he said.

From 2019 to 2021, the monsignor also transferred $1.9 million in parish funds to bank accounts associated with Frank Carone, Adams’ former chief of staff, Brennan said.

The bishop said Gigantiello failed to seek prior approval of the transactions and did not properly document them, in violation of the diocese’s investment policies and protocols.

Carone’s law firm repaid $1 million of the funds, along with about 9% interest, according to Brennan. Gigantiello also requested early repayment of the balance, but without the substantial interest required under the loan notes, the bishop said.

Federal investigators have subpoenaed the Brooklyn church seeking information about Carone and Gigantiello’s financial affairs, though neither has been charged with any wrongdoing.

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

Carone did not respond to an email seeking comment, but Gigantiello has defended his stewardship, telling The City, a local news outlet, that the investments were legal and provided a significant return to the church.

Meanwhile, the uproar her music video has sparked hasn’t been lost on Carpenter.

She made the point during a concert at Madison Square Garden in late September, just days after Adams became the first New York City mayor to be impeached while in office.

“Damn it, now what?” she said cheekily to the Manhattan crowd. “Are we going to talk about how I got the mayor indicted?”