A major controversy surrounding a modern interpretation of the Last Supper has overshadowed the highly anticipated opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. The organizers recently apologized and said it was never their intention to offend any religion or group. The IOC acknowledges its apology with good intentions.
Paris Olympics organizers apologized after some people took offense to a part of the opening ceremony that critics said mocked “The Last Supper”. The most anticipated sports event started just last week and it has already stirred a controversial ring.
During the ceremony on Friday, a scene on the Debilly Bridge over the Seine featured French DJ and producer Barbara Butch dressed in a blue dress with a silver headdress. Drag queens surrounded her, and later a nearly naked man painted in blue appeared on a dinner plate. They all portrayed Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, vegetation, fertility, and ecstasy. The scene turned into a runway show with models walking across.
Critics argued that this scene mocked Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting “The Last Supper,” which depicts Jesus Christ with his 12 apostles at his last meal before his betrayal.
Several Christian and Catholic organizations condemned the scene. The French Bishops’ Conference called it a “mockery and derision of Christianity.” Bishop Robert Barron in Minnesota and U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson also criticized the scene, calling it “shocking and insulting” to Christians.
Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony, stated that he did not intend the moment to shock or mock anyone. He explained that the scene aimed to celebrate the ancient Greek god Dionysus and highlight the absurdity of violence between humans.
Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps apologized, stating that there was never an intention to disrespect any religious group. She emphasized that the goal was to celebrate community tolerance and expressed regret if anyone was offended.
Olympis 2024 Has A Rocky Start
Not only the opening ceremony Paris Olympic organizers are scratching their heads from the start. They had a massive power outage in the city that has no apparent reason and no official explanation has been given so far. Due to a sudden arson attack at the railway station around 800,000 people could not reach their destination.
Moreover, an Australian athlete got robbed when he was coming to the stadium for his competition. Lastly, a Russian chef is detained for security reasons, embarrassing the organizers. Even the games are not safe. A deadly riot happened right in the middle of a Morocco and Argentina football match that injured many people at the venue.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) acknowledged the apology from the Paris 2024 organizers. We hope the games end safely and it does not bring any more controversy to the country.
