Olympics Opening Ceremony ‘Last Supper’ Controversy, Explained

However some related the tableau to the biblical scene da Vinci portrayed in “The Final Supper,” when Jesus Christ and his apostles shared a remaining meal earlier than the crucifixion.

When requested concerning the backlash July 27, the ceremony’s creative director, Thomas Jolly, mentioned at a press convention that he didn’t intend “to be subversive,” “mock” or “shock.”

“We wished to incorporate everybody, so simple as that,” he mentioned. “In France, we’ve freedom of creation, creative freedom. We’re fortunate in France to reside in a free nation. I didn’t 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.”

Showing on French information channel BFM-TV Sunday, Jolly confirmed “The Final Supper” was “not my inspiration.”

“There 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,” 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.

“We all know within the LGBTQ group in France we’re removed from what the ceremony confirmed. There’s a lot progress to do in society relating to transgender folks. It’s horrible that to legally change their id they’re pressured to be on trial,” France’s Inter-LGBT President James Leperlier mentioned, per the AP.

Chatting with French newspaper Le Parisien, Katerine mentioned in French that all the ceremony was “shifting” and “grandiose.”

“I used to be pleased with it as a result of it’s 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,” he mentioned. Katerine added that he hoped to get the next message throughout: “If we’re bare, there isn’t any warfare as a result of there are not any weapons.”

Le Filip, who gained the third season of “Drag Race France” this yr, informed AP they have been “amazed.”

“I 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 “disgusting.” 

“(To) see the opening ceremonies utterly blaspheme and mock the Christian religion with their interpretation of the Final Supper was disgusting,” she mentioned in an Instagram submit July 28. “It made me so unhappy. And somebody mentioned, ‘You shouldn’t be unhappy. You need to be mad about it.’ And I’m like, ‘Belief me. It makes me mad.’ However I’m extra unhappy, as a result of I’m unhappy for souls.”