Organizers of the Paris Olympics have issued an apology following backlash over a scene during the opening ceremony that some critics deemed as a parody of 'The Last Supper.' The controversial scene featured drag artists and dancers, drawing criticism from the Catholic church and Christian groups.
The French Catholic Church expressed disappointment, stating that the festivities included 'scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity.' In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for Paris 2024 clarified that there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group.
The spokesperson emphasized that the aim was to celebrate community and tolerance, and while the organizers believed this ambition was achieved, they expressed regret if anyone was offended by the portrayal.
Despite the controversy surrounding the scene, the opening ceremony received praise from many viewers. Some pointed out that the scene bore resemblance to other artistic works such as 'The Feast of the Gods' by Johann Rottenhammer and Jan Brueghel.
Director of the opening ceremony, Thomas Jolly, defended the scene, stating that it was inspired by the Greek God Dionysus, known for celebration. Jolly explained that the sequence was meant to depict a pagan party in connection with the God of Mount Olympus, emphasizing that there was no intention to mock anyone.
In a social media post, the official Olympics account highlighted that the interpretation of Dionysus aimed to raise awareness about the absurdity of violence among humans.
