‘The Chosen’ Studio Is Accused of Shortchanging Crowdfunders
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Christopher Garabedian, who invested $300,000 in the company behind the Christian drama "The Chosen," has filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that thousands of minority shareholders were unfairly cashed out and denied proper compensation.
- "The Chosen," which depicts the life of Jesus and his ministry, was initially funded by thousands of early investors and broke crowdfunding records by raising around $11 million for its first season in 2019.
- The series has grown significantly, attracting an estimated 300 million global viewers, with its final two seasons set to stream on Prime Video, focusing on Jesus' crucifixion and Resurrection, alongside planned spinoff series.
- The lawsuit claims that over 16,000 minority shareholders, representing 45% of the company's economic interests, were squeezed out by the company’s leadership despite their long-term commitment and belief in the project’s evangelical mission.
