The organizers of the Paris 2024 Olympics have issued an apology for a segment during Friday’s opening ceremony featuring DJ and producer Barbara Butch, a noted LGBT activist, and a number of drag queens and dancers appearing to mock the Last Supper of Jesus Christ and his disciples.
Thomas Jolly, the director of the ceremony, claimed in an interview with French media that the scene was based on The Feast of the Gods, a painting by Dutch artist Jan Harmensz van Biljert depicting pagan gods celebrating a divine marriage, with Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, at the center of the table, rather than The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci.
The performance drew criticism from multiple Christian leaders and conservatives worldwide, and many remain unconvinced by Jolly’s explanation.
JUST IN: Telecommunications company C Spire has removed all advertising from the Olympics after they mocked Christianity in their opening ceremony.
C Spire is the sixth-largest wireless provider in the United States.
“We were shocked by the mockery of the Last Supper during the… pic.twitter.com/FHnivRD1z1
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 27, 2024
The French Catholic Church’s conference of bishops labeled the scene as derisive of Christianity. American Roman Catholic Bishop Robert Barron also condemned the scene and rejected the apology as “woke duplicity” and “anything but an apology.”
After the ceremony, Mississippi-based telecommunications company C Spire pulled its advertising from the Olympics. A spokesman for the wireless provider said they were “shocked by the mockery of the Last Supper.”
Shortly after the opening ceremony, Paris saw a massive power outage. This followed the disruption of the railway network and air travel due to sabotage and bomb threats.
Ironically, the only building in the entire city that remained lit was the Catholic Sacré-Cœur Basilica.
To the Paris Olympics organizing committee, not good enough. #OlympicGames #Olympics2024Paris @Olympics pic.twitter.com/p8urrYLhA0
— Bishop Robert Barron (@BishopBarron) July 28, 2024