Opening Ceremony Last Supper Drag Queens at Paris Olympics: Controversy Explained
The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics featured drag queens in a Last Supper tableau, sparking controversy. This scene in the Olympic ceremony caused outrage among religious groups due to its perceived mockery of religious beliefs. Organizers apologized, stating the intention was to celebrate diversity and inclusion, not to offend. The religious parody in the opening ceremony led to debates about the appropriate balance between artistic expression and respect for religious sensitivities in large-scale public events.
Controversial scene details
- Drag queen tableau: The opening ceremony Last Supper drag queens scene featured performers arranged around a table, similar to Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting
- Artistic intent: Thomas Jolly, the artistic director, explained the Paris Olympics drag queen controversy scene was intended to:
- Celebrate diversity and inclusion
- Pay tribute to French gastronomy
- Send a message of love
- Performers involved: Drag artists Piche from Drag Race France and Barbara Butch (portraying Jesus) participated in the controversial Olympic ceremony religious parody
Reactions and controversy
Religious responses
- Catholic outrage: Catholic leaders worldwide, including the French bishops conference and Vatican officials, condemned the opening ceremony Last Supper drag queens scene
- Vatican statement: The Vatican expressed sadness over the "offense" to Christians and other religious believers in response to the Paris Olympics drag queen controversy
- Formal complaint: At least one Vatican official made a formal complaint to the French ambassador to Malta regarding the Olympic ceremony religious parody
Other reactions
- Muslim leaders: Denounced the inclusion of homosexual persons and drag queens in the opening ceremony Last Supper drag queens scene, stating it violated human dignity
- Turkish president: Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Pope Francis to speak out against the "perverse propaganda" in the ceremony, referring to the Paris Olympics drag queen controversy
Organizers' response
- Soft apology: The Paris 2024 Olympics Committee apologized, stating the opening ceremony Last Supper drag queens scene was not intended to disrespect any religious group
- Artistic explanation: Thomas Jolly claimed the Olympic ceremony religious parody was a celebration of Greek mythology, specifically Dionysus, rather than a mockery of Christianity
- Timing discrepancy: There was a 44-minute gap between the controversial scene and the appearance of Dionysus, contradicting the organizers' explanation of the Paris Olympics drag queen controversy
Audience and impact
- Opening ceremony viewership: The ceremony featuring the controversial opening ceremony Last Supper drag queens scene attracted 23 million viewers in France
- Social media reach: France Télévisions reported over 1 billion video views on their social media platforms during the Olympics, which included discussions about the Olympic ceremony religious parody
FAQ
What was the controversial scene in the Paris Olympics opening ceremony?
The controversial scene featured drag queens arranged in a tableau reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" painting. This opening ceremony Last Supper drag queens scene sparked outrage among religious groups and became known as the Paris Olympics drag queen controversy.
Why did organizers include this scene in the ceremony?
Organizers claimed the Olympic ceremony religious parody was intended to celebrate diversity and inclusion, pay tribute to French gastronomy, and send a message of love. The artistic director, Thomas Jolly, later explained it was meant to reference Greek mythology, specifically Dionysus, rather than mock Christianity.
How did religious groups react to the controversial scene?
Catholic leaders worldwide, including the French bishops conference and Vatican officials, condemned the opening ceremony Last Supper drag queens scene. The Vatican expressed sadness over the "offense" to Christians and other religious believers. Muslim leaders also denounced the inclusion of homosexual persons and drag queens in the scene.
Did the organizers apologize for the Paris Olympics drag queen controversy?
The Paris 2024 Olympics Committee issued a soft apology, stating that the opening ceremony Last Supper drag queens scene was not intended to disrespect any religious group. However, they maintained that the scene was meant to celebrate diversity and inclusion.
How many people viewed the Olympic ceremony religious parody?
The opening ceremony, which included the controversial scene, attracted 23 million viewers in France. Additionally, France Télévisions reported over 1 billion video views on their social media platforms during the Olympics, which likely included discussions about the Olympic ceremony religious parody.
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