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Olympics Opening Ceremony ‘Last Supper’ Controversy, Explained
Whereas the theatrical opening ceremony on the 2024 Paris Olympics introduced a myriad of memorable moments, one scene from the efficiency has prompted combined reactions.
The four-hour ceremony on July 26 kicked off the beginning of the Summer season Video games, with athletes gliding down the River Seine and performers reenacting internationally historic moments.
Throughout a tableau, drag queens and dancers lined an extended desk in a picture that sparked controversy, some initially believed resembled Leonardo da Vinciâs âThe Final Supperâ portrait of Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles.
Extra from the Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Although many discovered the second an inclusive celebration for the LGBTQ+ group, others took to social media to name the imagery a âmockeryâ and âinsulting to Christian folksâ following the efficiency.
On July 28, Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps apologized âif folks have taken any offense.â
âClearly there was by no means an intention to point out disrespect to any spiritual group. Quite the opposite, I believe that (creative director) Thomas Jolly actually tried to rejoice group tolerance,â Descamps mentioned at a press convention. âWe imagine that this ambition was achieved. If folks have taken any offense, we’re actually sorry.â
That very same day, the ceremony’s creative director, Thomas Jolly, confirmed on French tv that da Vinci’s fifteenth century piece was not his inspiration for the scene.
Learn on for why some have in contrast this Olympics opening ceremony efficiency to the âThe Final Supper,â how persons are reacting and extra.
Why some are connecting the Olympics opening ceremony to âThe Final Supperâ
In a single scene from the opening ceremony, a dinner platter lifted to point out a primarily nude Philippe Katerine singing in French. Within the background, dancers and drag queens struck poses alongside an extended desk.
Panning via the tableau, a digital camera first confirmed an individual topped with an aureole in entrance of DJ turntables. The following shot confirmed the remainder of the desk lined with performers holding their poses.
The desk then remodeled right into a catwalk, because the drag queens and fashions took the stage in homage to Parisâ trend scene.
The official X account for the Olympic Video games shared photographs of the second and referenced Dionysus, Greek god of wine-making, fruitfulness and ecstasy.
âThe interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us conscious of the absurdity of violence between human beings,â read a tweet from the official X account of the Olympics.
However some related the tableau to the biblical scene da Vinci portrayed in âThe Final Supper,â when Jesus Christ and his apostles shared a remaining meal earlier than the crucifixion.
When requested concerning the backlash July 27, the ceremonyâs creative director, Thomas Jolly, mentioned at a press convention that he didn’t intend âto be subversive,â âmockâ or âshock.â
âWe wished to incorporate everybody, so simple as that,â he mentioned. âIn France, we’ve freedom of creation, creative freedom. We’re fortunate in France to reside in a free nation. I didnât have any particular messages that I wished to ship. In France, we’re republic, we’ve the fitting to like whom we wish, we’ve the fitting to not be worshippers, we’ve a variety of rights in France, and that is what I wished to convey.â
Showing on French information channel BFM-TV Sunday, Jolly confirmed âThe Final Supperâ was ânot my inspiration.â
âThere may be Dionysus who arrives on this desk. He’s there as a result of he’s the God of celebration in Greek mythology. The concept was to have a pagan celebration related to the gods of Olympus. You’ll by no means discover in me a need to mock and denigrate anybody,â Jolly mentioned.
Reactions to Olympics opening ceremony efficiency
Some have been supportive of the creative imaginative and prescient, arguing the tableau was combating to make an announcement on inclusivity.
âWe all know within the LGBTQ group in France we’re removed from what the ceremony confirmed. Thereâs a lot progress to do in society relating to transgender folks. Itâs horrible that to legally change their id they’re pressured to be on trial,â Franceâs Inter-LGBT President James Leperlier mentioned, per the AP.
Chatting with French newspaper Le Parisien, Katerine mentioned in French that all the ceremony was âshiftingâ and âgrandiose.â
âI used to be pleased with it as a result of itâs my tradition. We’re full of various folks and every particular person lives in their very own method and above all has the fitting to take action. I beloved doing it,â he mentioned. Katerine added that he hoped to get the next message throughout: âIf we’re bare, there isn’t any warfare as a result of there are not any weapons.â
Le Filip, who gained the third season of âDrag Race Franceâ this yr, informed AP they have been âamazed.â
âI assumed it will be a five-minute drag occasion with queer illustration. I used to be amazed. It began with Woman Gaga, then we had drag queens, an enormous rave, and a hearth within the sky. It felt like a crowning once more. I’m proud to see my associates and queer folks on the world stage,” Le Filip mentioned.
Others, together with celebrities, U.S. political figures and Catholic church leaders, expressed outrage on the scene.
Actor Candace Cameron Bure, whose husband is a two-time Olympic medalist, referred to as the efficiency âdisgusting.âÂ
â(To) see the opening ceremonies utterly blaspheme and mock the Christian religion with their interpretation of the Final Supper was disgusting,â she mentioned in an Instagram submit July 28. âIt made me so unhappy. And somebody mentioned, âYou shouldnât be unhappy. You need to be mad about it.â And Iâm like, âBelief me. It makes me mad.â However Iâm extra unhappy, as a result of Iâm unhappy for souls.â
Home Speaker Mike Johnson shared a picture July 27 of the scene on X and referred to as the tableau âstunningâ and âinsulting.â
Catholic leaders in France referred to as the scene a âmockery of Christianityâ in an announcement, Reuters reported.
âThis ceremony has sadly included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity, which we very deeply deplore,â the Convention of French bishops mentioned in an announcement.
Harrison Butker, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs kicker who gave a controversial graduation speech concerning contraception, COVID-19 restrictions, girlsâs roles and extra earlier this yr, quoted the Bible on X after the ceremony.
ââBe not deceived, God is just not mocked. For what issues a person shall sow, these additionally shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh additionally shall reap corruption. However he that soweth within the spirit, of the spirit shall reap life eternal,ââ he wrote, citing, âGalatians 6:7-8.â
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