Russell Crowe cops backlash over private Sistine Chapel tour

By Alexandra Coulton

Russell Crowe is copping online backlash after posting photos from a private tour of the Sistine Chapel on Twitter.

The Aussie actor, who played Maximus in Gladiator, has been keeping fans up to date on his travels through Italy via a series of photos and quips posted to his Twitter. As you can imagine, they’re a little bit delightful.

Old movie poster I found… pic.twitter.com/d53S4IoUzt

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) July 19, 2022

Taking the kids to see my old office pic.twitter.com/uySmnOWHvo

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) July 18, 2022

“Taking the kids to see my old office,” he said in one Tweet, accompanied by a photo of the actor posing in front of the Colosseum.

“Old movie poster I found,” he said in reference to an ancient Roman fresco.

However, it seems not everyone shares our enthusiasm for Gladiator references.

Crowe was lucky enough to be given a private tour of the Sistine Chapel with his family, posting a touching series of Tweets that received an unexpected response.

“I’m not sure there’s a more special privilege in the world than to hold the key for the Sistine Chapel and to experience its glory in silence. So grateful. Sono al servicio di Roma,” he said, posting a series of images from inside the chapel.

I’m not sure there’s a more special privilege in the world than to hold the key for the Sistine Chapel and to experience it’s glory in silence. So grateful.
Sono al servicio di Roma. pic.twitter.com/BjPfPAvoIO

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) July 19, 2022

It was a special visit for Crowe, who said in a separate thread of Tweets that his mum had visited the Vatican Museum over 20 years ago with his father, who died in 2021.

“This time, with arrangements in place, we pushed her [Crowe’s mum] in a wheelchair down those same corridors. No tourist crowd, just us. My dad passed in 2021, but of course every fascinating corridor has its memories for her, directly associated to him,” he said.

Crowe went on to describe a touching experience where he and his mother overheard heard the Swiss Guard rehearsing a song that had played at his father’s funeral.

“Of all songs, of all times… how? I looked at my mum, she looked at me. My father’s presence overwhelmed us both. She had a little cry and I kissed her on the head. He was with her,” he continued.

“If you’re lucky enough to have your parents around, look after them. Call, visit, show them love.”

Despite the actor’s heartfelt words, commenters were quick to point out that Crowe had broken an important rule.

“You can’t take pictures, or at least we normal humans can’t,” one commenter said in Italian.

“So, the church gives privileges to rich and famous people why the plebs have to queue and swelter in the heat. Never mind taking photos. By the way, did you fly in by private jet? Just curious because of the global climate emergency and all,” said another.

One commenter jumped to Crowe’s defence;

“Normally I would agree with this type of complaint of privileged treatment,” they said.

“But this man, Russell Crowe, has given Rome more than they could ever pay him in a lifetime by making Rome a more, it already was, important holiday destination.”

According to the New Zealand Herald, taking photos at the Sistine Chapel is banned not to protect the artworks from camera flashes, but because of a Japanese TV station.

Apparently, in 1980, Vatican officials were in need of $4.8 million to restore Michelangelo’s five-century-old artwork.

A Japanese network called Nippon Corporation agreed to cover the cost in exchange for exclusive rights to recording and photographing the Chapel.

Featured image: Twitter/@russellcrowe

Advertise with us

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

Gladiator italy rome Russell Crowe Sistine Chapel twitter