Holy Water to Bedroom Heat
Emily Olson
Monsignor Jamie J. Gigantiello, late of Brooklyn’s Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, has found himself in a holy mess that would make even the most devout sinner blush. It all started when pop sweetheart Sabrina Carpenter turned his church into her personal playground for a racy music video shoot.
The Video Vixen
On Aug. 14, 2023, Gigantiello welcomed Carpenter and crew into his hallowed halls, blind to the storm they’d unleash. Unbeknownst to him (and the diocese), “Skinny Dipping” wasn’t just a dip in the water - it was a skin-baring splash that sent shockwaves through the Catholic community. The video premiered on Halloween, and with over 11 million views, it’s safe to say the devil found work for idle hands.
A Church Divided
Parishioners and church officials watched in horror as Carpenter writhed and wriggled in their place of worship. Gigantiello was supposed to have gotten permission from on high (the diocese), but he forgot to ask, leaving him with egg on his face and the bishop none too pleased.
On Nov. 4, 2023, Gigantiello was stripped of his title, placed on administrative leave, and sent packing. But this was just the first act in what would become a very public drama.
Following the Money
Just over a year later, whispers of financial mismanagement began to echo through Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Nearly $2 million had gone missing, allegedly funneled from parish funds to Eric Adams, Gigantiello’s former aide and current New York City Mayor. The internal investigation sparked by Carpenter’s video shoot unearthed this potential scandal.
Deny, Deny, Then Cooperate
Gigantiello maintained his innocence through it all, with his lawyer Arthur L. Aidala insisting he was just a choirboy following orders. But faced with subpoenas and investigators, Gigantiello sang like a canary, handing over documents left and right.
The Monsignor’s fall from grace serves as a cautionary tale: when you invite the world into your church (literally), it might just bring its sinful ways along too. And we ain’t talking Hail Marys here.