Olympics 2024 opening ceremony 'Last Supper' act sparks controversy, Elon Musk, Catholic church react sharply

Olympics 2024 opening ceremony act has irked a section of netizens. Paris Olympics 2024 apparently featured a team of drag queens who reportedly enacted the parody of Leonardo Da Vinci's "Last Supper". A section of social media users, the Catholic church and far-right politicians, Elon Musk voiced resentment over that portion.

The act had a team of 18 performers including three known Drag Race Farance queens. The act was performed with set up of what is looking like a long table.

Olympics in their statement described the act as "interpretation of the Greek God [of wine and festivity] Dionysus".


The unprecedented ceremony on the Seine River, which drew millions of viewers around the world, included a tableau celebrating the French capital's vibrant nightlife and reputation as a place of tolerance, pleasure and subversiveness.

It recreated the famous biblical scene of Jesus Christ and his twelve apostles sharing a last meal before crucifixion, but with a group of drag queens, a transgender model and a naked singer made up as the Greek god of wine Dionysus.

The Catholic church in France criticised the segment.

"This ceremony has unfortunately included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity, which we very deeply deplore," the Conference of French bishops said in a statement.

Far-right politicians in France and elsewhere took to social media to express their disgust.

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"To all the Christians of the world who are watching the #Paris2024 ceremony and felt insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not France that is speaking but a left-wing minority ready for any provocation," far-right politician Marion Marechal said in a post on X.

Her Italian counterpart, Matteo Salvini, added: "Opening the Olympics by insulting billions of Christians in the world was really a very bad start, dear French. Sleazy."


American billionaire Elon Musk said it was "extremely disrespectful to Christians".

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France, while proud of its rich Catholic heritage, also has a long tradition of secularism and anti-clericalism. Blasphemy is not only legal, but also considered by many as an essential pillar of freedom of speech in a democratic society.

FAQs

Q1. Where is Olympics 2024 taking place?
A1. Olympics 2024 is taking place in Paris.

Q2. Where can we watch Olympics 2024?
A2. Viewers in the US can watch Olympics 2024 on NBC.