A drag queen performance during the Paris Olympic opening ceremony that seemed to be a spoof of the “Last Supper” sparked a backlash on social media, especially from Christian communities.
In a performance that mirrored the well-known portrayal of Jesus and his Twelve Apostles in Leonardo da Vinci’s renowned painting of the “Last Supper,” eighteen performers positioned themselves behind a large table. The most stunning aspect of the performance was a woman wearing a big silver headgear that looked like a halo, just like the ones found in classic paintings of Jesus.
Another scene that caused a lot of outrage was a blue-painted figure who was just wearing a string of fruit and flowers and looked like a dish from the “Last Supper.”
Videos of these performances rapidly went viral, with many social media users criticizing the actions as profoundly disrespectful to Catholics. Clint Russell, the presenter of the Liberty Lockdown podcast, tweeted, “This is outrageous. It is inappropriate to start your event by substituting Jesus and the disciples with men dressed in drag. With 2.4 billion Christians around the world, the Olympics have delivered a strong message that they are unwanted.”
Dr. Eli David, an entrepreneur and researcher, expressed his frustration, tweeting, “Even as a Jew, I am infuriated by this outrageous insult to Jesus and Christianity. How do you feel about it as Christians?”
Niall Boylan, an award-winning broadcaster, joined to the criticism, saying, “The depiction of the ‘Last Supper’ is blatant disrespect and incitement.” Jesus is depicted as a woman, and the disciples as transvestites. “I wonder why they didn’t mock Islam in the same way.”
In reaction to the criticism, organizers defended the performance, stating that it was intended to raise awareness about the absurdity of human violence in a comedic way, as reported by The New York Post.
However, this was not the only contentious moment at the opening ceremony. Another incident featured three persons engaged in inappropriate behavior at France’s national library, causing additional indignation. According to presenter Beth Fisher, “Only the French could squeeze a threesome into an opening ceremony.”
In addition, a “headless” Marie Antoinette graced the stage, symbolizing the final queen consort of France before to the French Revolution, who was infamously executed by guillotine after receiving a death sentence.
Instead of being a celebration of harmony and sportsmanship, the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics has generated a lot of controversy and spirited discussion.
ALSO READ: Jill Biden Lends A Hand In Paris, Participates In Relay Drill With U.S. Olympians
