Organizers of the Paris Olympics said a drag performance at Friday’s opening ceremony was a tribute to Greek mythology rather than “The Last Supper.”
“We are thrilled to be working with such a dynamic group,” said Thomas Jolly, artistic director of the ceremony. French news channel BFM TV NBC reported on Sunday that the inspiration for the scene was the Greek god Dionysus. “today.” His comments came after the opening ceremony included a scene that some pointed out looked like Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper.”
“Coming to this table is Dionysus, who is the Greek god of festivals, so he’s here,” Jolie told NBC. “The idea was to have a pagan festival that had to do with the Olympian gods. I have no desire to mock or belittle anyone.”
Friday’s opening ceremony featured a group of performers, some cross-dressed, in a scene said to resemble Da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper,” with figures painted blue sitting at a table surrounded by fruit while dancers and other performers posed in the background.
One of the performers in the middle was wearing a halo crown.
The official Olympic account also posted a photo from the ceremony on social media platform “X”, also suggesting that this was a reference to Dionysus.
“The interpretation of the Greek god Dionysus helps us to realize the absurdity of human violence.” post state.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) also criticized the performance, calling it a “mockery of the Last Supper.”
Anne Decquin, a spokeswoman for the Paris 2024 Olympics, apologised at a press conference if people felt offended but stressed that this was not their intention.
“There was clearly no intention to show disrespect towards any religious group. On the contrary, I believe Thomas Jolly intended to praise the community for its tolerance,” De Camp said. At a press conference “I believe this ambition has been achieved,” he said on Saturday.
“Obviously I’m truly sorry if anyone was offended,” she added.
