Drag Performance Resembling ‘The Last Supper’ at Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony Sparks Controversy
The extravagant opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics has ignited fury among various groups, particularly those who espouse conservative or Christian beliefs. The cause of this uproar? A drag queen-themed parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic fresco, “The Last Supper.”
In the scene, French actor and singer Philippe Katerine portrayed the Greek god Dionysus, painted blue and adorned with little more than a bunch of flowers covering his modesty. The tableau recreated the famous painting, but with a twist: Jesus was replaced by an obese woman, while queer and trans figures (including a child) depicted her apostles.
Backlash
While some fans appreciated this unabashed display of French camp and kitsch, others were deeply unhappy. Jenna Ellis, former 2020 campaign attorney to Donald Trump, decried the ceremony as containing “overt pagan and satanic symbolism.” Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker also weighed in, calling the depiction “crazy” and quoting the New Testament book Epistle to the Galatians: “For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap.”
Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony, defended the production, emphasizing the theme of inclusion. He stated that their intention was not to be subversive but to celebrate diversity. “We wanted to include everyone, as simple as that,” Jolly explained. “In France, we have freedom of creation, artistic freedom. We are lucky in France to live in a free country.”
France may be “a free country”, many have been quick to point out that a similar expression of freedom would ever be included in the opening ceremony that parodied any aspect of, for example, Islam and that the display was actually an open attack on Christianity and it’s values.
If the show’s organizers wanted to be inclusive and have drag queens in their show that’s fine, but why recreate one of the most iconic artistic pieces of the Christian faith, especially when the lifestyles of the people recreating the scene is so diametrically opposed to Christian values?
For many, the purpose behind this provocative display was clear: to insult Christians, Christianity, and even God himself. The oversexualized recreation of the Last Supper, complete with drag queens, children, and a nearly naked blue Smurf, left a lasting impression.
Aftermath
The event organizers seem to be revisiting their initial choices in response to critical feedback. They’ve reportedly taken down their own controversial scene footage from social media platforms and are actively issuing copyright strikes to YouTube channels that uploaded it. Unfortunately, for some, the damage is already done.
At best this situation underscores the delicate balance between artistic expression, cultural sensitivity, and religious beliefs. At worst, it is yet another overt attack on Christianity and the values on which the Western world was built.