Current:Home > NewsParis Olympics organizers apologize after critics say 'The Last Supper' was mocked-VaTradeCoin
Paris Olympics organizers apologize after critics say 'The Last Supper' was mocked
lotradecoin features View Date:2024-12-25 22:32:43
Paris Olympic organizers apologized Sunday to people offended during a tableau of the opening ceremony that depicted the Greek god Dionysus and an ancient festival meant to honor him. Critics said it mocked “The Last Supper.”
During Friday's ceremony, there was a moment on the Debilly Bridge over the Seine when the camera cut to French DJ and producer Barbara Butch, who describes herself as a "love activist." Butch wore a blue dress with a silver headdress and as the camera panned out, she was flanked by drag queens on both sides. Later appeared a nearly naked man painted in blue − a portrayal of Dionysus, the god of wine-making, vegetation, fertility and ecstasy − on a dinner plate surrounded by food. He then sang as the people around him danced, and it turned into a runway scene where models walked across.
The scene has been met with backlash as people say it mocked "The Last Supper," the famous painting from Leonardo da Vinci that shows Jesus Christ with his 12 apostles at his last supper, where he announced that one of the apostles would betray him.
Several Christian and Catholic organizations around the world have denounced the moment since then. The French Bishops’ Conference, which represents the country's Catholic bishops, said in a statement that the scene was a "mockery and derision of Christianity" and it was thinking of religious followers who were "hurt by the outrageousness and provocation of certain scenes." Well-known Bishop Robert Barron in Minnesota said in a video that it mocked "a very central moment in Christianity."
U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said on social media that it was "shocking and insulting" to Christian people.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
Telecommunications provider C Spire also said it was pulling all of its advertising from the Olympics as a result of the scene.
What did Paris Olympic organizers say about controversial segment?
Thomas Jolly, the opening ceremony’s artistic director, said at the International Olympic Committee's daily briefing at the Olympic Games on Saturday that the moment was not meant to "be subversive or shock people or mock people." During the opening ceremony, the official Olympic Games social media account said the blue person, played by French singer and actor Philippe Katerine, was Dionysus and it "makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings."
Jolly also said on French TV station BFMTV on Sunday, "The Last Supper" was "not my inspiration" for the segment, and he also spoke about the meaning of Dionysus.
"The idea was to have a pagan celebration connected to the gods of Olympus. You will never find in me a desire to mock and denigrate anyone," he said.
Still, Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps apologized on Sunday for those offended by the scene.
"Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. On the contrary, I think (with) Thomas Jolly, we really did try to celebrate community tolerance," Descamps said. “Looking at the result of the polls that we shared, we believe that this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense, we are, of course, really, really sorry.”
The IOC said on social media that it took note of the apology from Paris 2024.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (8)
Related
- Manager of pet grooming salon charged over death of corgi that fell off table
- The U.S. ratifies treaty to phase down HFCs, gases trapping 1,000x more heat than CO2
- Get 2 Peter Thomas Roth Invisible Priming Sunscreens for Less Than the Price of 1
- Biden is in Puerto Rico to see what the island needs to recover
- North Dakota regulators consider underground carbon dioxide storage permits for Midwest pipeline
- Taylor Swift Just Subtly Shared How She's Doing After Joe Alwyn Breakup
- Big food companies commit to 'regenerative agriculture' but skepticism remains
- Saint-Louis is being swallowed by the sea. Residents are bracing for a new reality
- Taxpayers could get $500 'inflation refund' checks under New York proposal: What to know
- Survivor’s Keith Nale Dead at 62 After Cancer Battle
Ranking
- Stock market today: Asian stocks are mixed ahead of key US inflation data
- Ryan Reynolds Jokes His and Blake Lively's Kids Have a Private Instagram Account
- Why Jenna Ortega Says Her Wednesday-Inspired Style Isn't Going Anywhere
- Do wealthy countries owe poorer ones for climate change? One country wrote up a bill
- Taxpayers could get $500 'inflation refund' checks under New York proposal: What to know
- 'The Great Displacement' looks at communities forever altered by climate change
- People smugglers keep trying to recruit this boat captain. Here's why he says no
- One Park. 24 Hours.
Recommendation
-
Turning dusty attic treasures into cash can yield millions for some and disappointment for others
-
More money, more carbon?
-
As farmers split from the GOP on climate change, they're getting billions to fight it
-
Scarlett Johansson Makes Rare Comment About Ex-Husband Ryan Reynolds
-
Worst. Tariffs. Ever. (update)
-
Here's how far behind the world is on reining in climate change
-
Republicans get a louder voice on climate change as they take over the House
-
It's going to be hard for Biden to meet this $11 billion climate change promise