The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, held on July 26, has ignited a firestorm of controversy and criticism worldwide. At the center of the debate is a performance that many interpreted as a parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’, featuring drag queens and transgender artists. This scene, along with other elements such as a naked singer portraying the Greek god Dionysus, has been widely condemned as blasphemous and disrespectful to Christianity.The backlash has been swift and severe. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has removed the video of the ceremony from its official website and YouTube channel. Several political and religious figures have expressed outrage, including Elon Musk, who called it an ‘outrageous display of disrespect to Christians’. The Catholic Church, through the French episcopate, has voiced its dismay, describing the performance as ‘mockery and ridicule of Christians’.In response to the controversy, the organizers of the Paris Olympics have issued an apology, stating that they did not intend to show disrespect to any religious groups and aimed to celebrate unity and tolerance. Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the ceremony, has denied any intentional reference to ‘The Last Supper’, claiming that the scene was meant to depict a ‘pagan festival related to the gods of Olympus’.The fallout has extended beyond mere criticism. C Spire, a US technology company, has stopped its Olympic advertising in protest. Some conservative US politicians have also weighed in, with Representative Mike Johnson calling the ceremony ‘shocking and offensive’ to Christians worldwide.Despite the controversy, some defend the ceremony as a celebration of diversity and inclusion. The organizers maintain that their intention was to promote the values of the French Republic, including liberty, equality, and fraternity. However, the debate continues to rage, raising questions about the role of religion in public events and the balance between artistic expression and cultural sensitivity in international gatherings like the Olympics.
Key points
- The 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony featured a controversial scene interpreted as a parody of ‘The Last Supper’, sparking global outrage.
- The International Olympic Committee removed the ceremony video from official channels amid backlash.
- Olympic organizers and the artistic director have apologized and denied intentional religious references, claiming to celebrate diversity.
- The controversy has led to advertising withdrawals and criticism from political and religious figures worldwide.
Contradictions👾While the artistic director Thomas Jolly denies any inspiration from ‘The Last Supper’, many observers and critics firmly believe the performance was a direct parody of the religious scene.
👾The organizers claim to celebrate unity and tolerance, but the ceremony has resulted in widespread division and offense.
