A performance that many claimed parodied the Last Supper drew criticism from Donald Trump during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. The contentious performance has been criticized by several public figures, including the former president.
🚨BREAKING: Reports of a massive power outage in Paris currently.
Jesus has spoken!
What’s your reaction? pic.twitter.com/t6IbOxMFiw
— Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 News (@DonaldTNews) July 28, 2024
Controversial Performance Sparks Backlash
During his Monday, July 29, interview with Fox News’s The Ingraham Angle, Trump called the performance a “disgrace.” “I truly felt that the opening ceremony was a disgrace,” he remarked. “I considered it to be a disgrace.”
The scene featured drag queens and artists arranged at a table to either side of French DJ and lesbian activist Barbara Butch. The group was on a boat floating down the Seine, with Butch wearing a headdress shaped like a halo.
Artistic Director’s Vision and Defense in Paris
Greek mythology and the Feast of Dionysus, the Greek deity of wine, served as inspiration for the scene, according to Thomas Jolly, the ceremony’s artistic director. The singer Philippe Katerine played the role of the Greek God; she wore blue body paint and was almost nude. Jolly emphasized that the well-known biblical tale was not his source of inspiration.
Jolly stated, “I don’t want to be subversive, mock, or shock people.” “I wanted to send a message of love, inclusion, and not division at all, above all else.” Many Christians, however, asserted that they thought the scene resembled the Last Supper fresco painting by Leonardo da Vinci. It was offensive to several people.
“I Considered What They Did to Be a Disgrace.”
Now that the concert is over, Trump has attacked it for being indecent. They can, after all, do certain things. I thought it was awful,” he remarked. “See, I support everyone.” Although I have a fairly open mind, I felt what they did was shameful.
The Olympic organizers expressed their regret to the offended parties and declared they never meant to offend anyone based on their religion. Disdaining for any religious organization was never the goal. Conversely, in working with Thomas Jolly, we truly attempted to highlight community tolerance, spokeswoman Anne Descamps stated on Sunday, June 28 during a press conference.
Based on the findings of the surveys we both participated in, we think this goal was accomplished. Naturally, we sincerely apologize to anyone we may have offended,” Descamps continued.
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