CNN reports that organizers of the Paris Olympics have issued an apology following backlash over a scene in the opening ceremony that some critics likened to a parody of "The Last Supper." The controversial segment, which featured drag artists and dancers, drew sharp criticism from the Catholic Church and Christian groups.
The 2024 Paris Olympics has gone full Woke dystopian.
The opening ceremony was filled with transgend*r mockery of the Last Supper, the Golden Calf idol, and even the Pale Horse from the Book of Revelation.
The Olympics has made it clear that Christian viewers aren't welcome. pic.twitter.com/LgawyE6YRX
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) July 26, 2024
The French Catholic Church expressed its displeasure, claiming the festivities "included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity." Elon Musk agreed with that sentiment, saying, "This was extremely disrespectful to Christians."
C Spire, a Mississippi-based wireless internet provider, even pulled their funding from the Olympics, as they shared on X, "We were shocked by the mockery of the Last Supper during the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics. C Spire will be pulling our advertising from the Olympics." Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves commented, "I am proud to see the private sector in Mississippi step up and put their foot down. God will not be mocked. C Spire drew a common-sense, appropriate line."
Anne Descamps, spokesperson for Paris 2024, addressed the issue at a news conference on Sunday. "There was clearly never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group," Descamps stated. "On the contrary, I think we tried to celebrate community and tolerance. We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense, we're, of course, really sorry."
However, the ceremony also received widespread praise, with some observers noting that the scene bore a closer resemblance to other artistic works, such as "The Feast of the Gods" by Johann Rottenhammer and Jan Brueghel. Thomas Jolly, director of the opening ceremony, refuted claims that the scene was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" in an interview with CNN affiliate BFMTV. "Dionysus arrives at the table because he is the Greek God of celebration, and that sequence is called 'festivity,'" Jolly explained. He emphasized that the concept was to create a "big pagan party" linked to Greek mythology, asserting, "You will never find in me, or in my work, any desire of mocking anyone."
Some are angry about the "anti-Christian depiction of the last supper" at the Olympic Opening ceremony. (@elonmusk and @realDonaldTrump among others)
A Dutch art historian explains it's not the last supper but a Dutch painting of the Olympic gods.
And I explain what I loved.
🧵 pic.twitter.com/ZMftlt7dTO— AukeHoekstra (@AukeHoekstra) July 28, 2024
The official Olympics account on X offered further context, stating that the "interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings."
