Bear Grylls Faces Backlash Over Christmas Message

Bear Grylls has sparked controversy after referring to Mary as a 'Palestinian refugee' in a Christmas message promoting his upcoming book, 'The Greatest Story Ever Told'. In his social media post, he described Mary as a 'young, poor, and terrified Palestinian girl' giving birth in difficult circumstances, which led to significant backlash online. Critics, including the Campaign Against Antisemitism, argued that this characterization misrepresents historical facts, as Mary was a Jewish woman from Judea and the term 'Palestine' was not used until much later. The backlash included comments questioning the historical accuracy of Grylls's statements and accusing him of erasing Mary's Jewish identity. Despite being a devout Christian, Grylls faced a community note on X that pointed out the inaccuracies in his claims. The post has drawn a mixed reaction, with many expressing disappointment over what they perceive as a lack of historical understanding.