A former imam of the Grand Mosque in Meccahas been widely criticised after appearing in a promotional video clip for a combat game event as part of the .
posted to Twitter on Thursday by 's Entertainment Authority chief, Turki Al Sheikh, promoting the , which will run until 16 March next year.
The 62-year-old appeared dressed in military uniform and leading a battle in the video, which has gathered over 5 million views in less than 24 hours.
Many social media users slammed the cleric's participation in the video, calling him a "" and accusing him of supporting "".
"I am not against entertainment... but I am against randomness, stupidity and the lack of separation between religion and public life," one twitter user .
Many others were also taken aback at the former Mecca imam's inclusion in the video.
One twitter user said that "if he had any good in him", he would still be the imam today.
Some shared conspiracies that the former imam is a client of the Saudi government, who's job it is to "mislead people".
While others held that "righteous" individuals would not "accept such actions in support of the people of falsehood and corruption".
There were also those who didn't understand the controversy, with saying "[the uproar] made me feel like he committed blasphemy".
Some also defended the cleric, saying: "[He] is promoting a Saudi festival and this is his patriotic duty"
Others seemed amused by the video's "creativity".
In response to the video shared by Al-Sheikh, : "Do you think I can go to Hollywood?", to which the authority chair he could "do anything".