“Paris Organizers Apologize for ‘Last Supper’ Sketch After Outrage”
‘Clearly, there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. The opening ceremony aimed to celebrate community tolerance,’ Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps said at a press conference.
Paris 2024 organizers apologized on Sunday to Catholics and other Christian groups who were angered by a kitsch tableau in the Olympic Games opening ceremony that parodied Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting ‘The Last Supper’.
The segment, which resembled the biblical scene of Jesus Christ and his apostles sharing a last meal before crucifixion, featured drag queens, a transgender model, and a naked singer made up as the Greek god of wine, Dionysus. This depiction drew dismay from the Catholic Church and the religious right in America.
“Clearly, there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. The opening ceremony aimed to celebrate community tolerance,” Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps said at a press conference.
“We believe this ambition was achieved. If anyone has taken offense, we are truly sorry.”
France, while proud of its rich Catholic heritage, also has a long tradition of secularism and anti-clericalism. Blasphemy is not only legal but is considered by many to be an essential pillar of freedom of speech.
Supporters of the tableau praised its message of inclusivity and tolerance.
The Catholic Church in France condemned the ceremony, stating that it “included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity.”
In Germany, Bishop Stefan Oster of Passau commented, “An impressive opening to hopefully peaceful games. The queer Last Supper was a low point, however, and wholly superfluous in this context.”
Some commentators suggested that the controversy was another example of 21st-century culture wars, amplified by the 24-hour news cycle and social media.
Thomas Jolly, the artistic director and mastermind behind the flamboyant opening ceremony, stated that religious subversion had never been his intention.
“We wanted to talk about diversity. Diversity means coming together. We aimed to include everyone—it’s as simple as that,” he told reporters on Saturday.
