Kristen Bell has found herself at the center of an unexpected media storm after discovering that her voice is being used as a leading role in The Life of Jesus Podcast, a new faith-based audio series promoted by Fox News Media’s “Fox Faith” brand. The 52-episode project dramatizes key stories from the New Testament and highlights a star-studded voice cast that includes Bell, Brian Cox, Malcolm McDowell, and more.
How the Controversy Began
When Fox announced the podcast—with press releases and promotional materials naming Kristen Bell as the voice of Mary Magdalene—many assumed she had recently recorded the role. Instead, Bell revealed that she had no idea she was involved in the project.
Her representatives explained that the recordings being used are from around 15 years ago, originally created for The Truth & Life Dramatized Audio Bible. Bell was never contacted about the reuse of her voice and did not give new permission for the audio to be repurposed for a 2025 Fox-branded podcast.
The situation escalated when Bell was asked to appear on Fox & Friends to promote the show. She declined after realizing what the appearance was for.
What Producers Are Saying
Producers behind the new series say they legally licensed the original recordings and insist that permissions were granted at the time of the initial project. However, many actors say this misses the point: the concern is not legality, but transparency.
Brian Cox, Malcolm McDowell, and several other performers have also stated they were unaware their old recordings were being marketed as part of a new Fox faith-based podcast.
Why Fans Are Talking About It
Kristen Bell’s association with a Fox News religious project struck many fans as surprising, given her typical entertainment roles and public image. The incident has sparked industry-wide discussion about voice rights, licensing, and how older audio can be repackaged in the streaming era—sometimes without performers’ fresh awareness.
The Bigger Picture
Even if the licensing is legally valid, the situation raises questions about artist autonomy, fair use of archival recordings, and ethical transparency when promoting repurposed content.
As the podcast approaches release, the discussion around how these recordings were obtained and marketed continues to unfold.
Sources
People – Kristen Bell shocked to learn her voice is leading Fox Bible podcast
https://people.com/kristen-bell-shocked-to-learn-her-voice-is-leading-a-new-bible-podcast-from-fox-11854383
The Guardian – Actors shocked to find themselves in Fox News Jesus podcast
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/nov/21/fox-news-life-jesus-podcast
Entertainment Weekly – Stars had “no knowledge” their voices would be used in Fox Jesus podcast
https://ew.com/celebrities-voice-performances-used-fox-news-jesus-podcast-without-knowledge-11854206
The Daily Beast – Fox accused of using actors’ voices without permission
https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-jesus-podcast-uses-stars-voice-without-permission
Variety – Kristen Bell & Brian Cox surprised Fox podcast uses 2010 audio
https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/kristen-bell-brian-cox-fox-news-life-of-jesus-podcast-1236588322
Hollywood Reporter – Fox podcast uses old audio from Bell, Cox
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/kristen-bell-brian-cox-life-jesus-podcast-fox-news-1236433343
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