Former President Donald Trump has denounced a performance at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics that critics said mocked “The Last Supper” and was an insult to Christians around the world.
President Trump appeared on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” on Monday and slammed the performance as a “disgrace,” becoming the latest public figure to weigh in on the controversy.
“The truth is, I think the inauguration was a disgrace,” the Republican presidential candidate said. “I think it was a disgrace.”
In the scene in question, lesbian activist and French DJ Barbara Bucci, wearing a halo-like headpiece, is flanked by drag performers and artists at tables on either side of her as the group travels down the Seine in a boat.
Thomas Joly, the ceremony’s artistic director, said he drew inspiration not from a well-known Biblical story but from Greek mythology and the feast of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, performed by singer Philippe Caterine, nearly naked and wearing blue body paint, surrounded by fruit and flowers.
“My desire is not to be disruptive, nor to ridicule or shock,” Jolie said. “Above all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion, not to be divisive in any way.”
But Christians said the resemblance between Jesus and the 12 apostles in Leonardo da Vinci’s fresco “The Last Supper” was creepy and disturbing.
The French Catholic Bishops’ Conference quickly issued a strong condemnation of the performance.
“Unfortunately, this ceremony contained scenes of mockery and ridicule for Christianity, which we deeply regret,” the French Bishops’ Conference said in a statement.
Trump said the performance was in bad taste.
“I mean, they can do certain things, and I thought it was awful,” he said. “I’m tolerant of everybody. I’m very open-minded… but I thought what they did was disgraceful.”
In a speech on Saturday, House Speaker Mike Johnson argued that the controversy over Olympic celebrations is part of a “war” on Christian faith and tradition.
“Last night’s mockery of ‘The Last Supper’ is shocking and offensive to Christians around the world who watched the Olympic Opening Ceremony,” he tweeted. “The battle against our faith and traditional values is now unending, but we know that truth and virtue will always triumph.”
Olympic organizers said they had no intention of disrespecting anyone’s religion and apologized to anyone offended on Sunday.
“Clearly no disrespect was intended to any religious group. On the contrary, [with] “Thomas Jolly, we really wanted to celebrate the generosity of the community,” spokeswoman Ann DeCun said at a press conference Sunday.
“Looking at the polling results that we shared, I am confident that this ambition has been achieved. I am, of course, truly sorry if anybody was offended.”
