“Neighbors are Upset Over My $1,000 Halloween Decorations, but I Refuse to Tone It Down”

Vic Moriana, a 34-year-old Halloween enthusiast, has turned his home into a controversial attraction with intense decorations, including a bloodied crucifixion scene, a pentagram, and church pews. Despite protests from some angry neighbors, he insists that his elaborate setup is just for fun.

Moriana spent thousands on his Halloween display outside his rented home in Metairie, Louisiana. While the majority of neighbors appreciate his decorations, some religious protesters find them offensive and have begun picketing, viewing the display as blasphemous.

The protesters carried signs with messages like “Anti-Christian art is hate speech, not free speech” and “Catholics reject blasphemous art.” Moriana, who was raised Catholic but no longer practices, believes the protesters have misunderstood the intent behind his decorations.

Moriana clarified that his display was not meant to insult religion, stating, “The religious vibe just tends to be the most scary. I think Halloween should be scary.” He also mentioned that he did not intend for his decorations to serve as a statement on free speech.

Despite the protests, Moriana is more determined than ever to stand his ground. He stated, “I don’t even mind the protesters, to be honest. They’re peaceful.” He respects their freedom of speech and appreciates the attention they’ve brought to his decorations.

Moriana believes that the efforts to shut down his display have only increased its visibility, saying, “It was people trying to shut this down that blew up the story. That’s just more publicity.” He feels the protests are having the opposite effect of what the protesters intend and doesn’t have much sympathy for their complaints.

Creating the decorations has been a great bonding experience for Moriana and his six-year-old daughter, who understands the difference between his fake props and real objects. He expressed a wish that the adults upset about his display could share that perspective. He added, “If that’s not your thing, maybe pick a different street to walk down.”

Moriana asserted that the protesters’ complaints lack legal grounds, emphasizing that he ensures his display complies with laws and local ordinances each year. However, the situation has brought personal challenges; his girlfriend left him after he refused to take down the decorations, and protesters have contacted news stations to stir up trouble, which has impacted her job and led to a temporary separation. Despite these difficulties, Moriana remains resolute, stating, “I’m actually doing what I love,” and questioning, “At what point do I have to appease you and stifle my own artistic creativity?”