During the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, a controversial performance was delivered, which many have claimed was an overt mockery of Christianity. Subsequently, French citizens have reacted to the display, which was supposed to represent their country. While some have defended and applauded the performance, many others have criticized it, expressing embarrassment to be associated with it.
The scene that generated the powerful backlash featured what some have claimed is an offensive reinterpretation of “The Last Supper” painted by Leonardo Da Vinci, showing the final meal Jesus Christ had with the twelve apostles. However, this time, it featured a woman surrounded by what appeared to be men dressed in drag queen attire.
French President Emmanuel Macron defended the performance and even applauded the artistic director of the 2024 Paris Games, Thomas Jolly, for putting on the controversial show. “Thanks to Thomas Jolly and his creative genius for this grandiose ceremony. Thank you to the artists for this unique and magical moment. Thank you to the police and emergency services, agents and volunteers,” Macron said.
However, other French citizens expressed a very different sentiment than that of Macron. One French user on social media described the event as a “freakshow.” She wrote, “As a sincerely patriotic French girl, I disolidarise myself from this freakshow and apologize to you, world.”
Another user from France lamented how it seems that the “woke metropolitan elite” “ruin everything,” an opinion that is also commonly shared in America. They said, “As a French woman I am deeply embarrassed by this #OpeningCeremony and would like to apologise to the entire world for subjecting you all to this sick farce. Don’t hate us, it isn’t us, it’s the woke metropolitan elite – they ruin f****** everything.”
The performance even prompted an official statement from the French Bishops’ Conference, which denounced it as “mockery” and “derision” of the Christian faith. The group said, “This ceremony unfortunately included scenes of mockery and derision of Christianity, which we deeply regret. We would like to thank the members of other religious denominations who have expressed their solidarity with us.” The organization added, “This morning, we are thinking of all the Christians on every continent who have been hurt by the outrageousness and provocation of certain scenes.”
The Christian Tribune recently reported on the reactions from other prominent Christian figures who criticized the display at the Paris Olympic Games. Outspoken Catholic and kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs quote Galatians when speaking about the event, maintaining that God will not be mocked.
“Be not deceived, God is not mocked. For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption. But he that soweth in the spirit, of the spirit shall reap life everlasting,” Butker wrote on social media while sharing a clip of the performance.
Furthermore, Candance Cameron Bure reacted to the incident, claiming, “So to watch such an incredible and wonderful event that’s going to take place over the next two weeks, and see the opening ceremonies completely blaspheme and mock the Christian faith with their interpretation of the Last Supper was disgusting, and it made me so sad. And someone said, You shouldn’t be sad. You should be mad about it. And I’m like, trust me, it makes me mad, but I’m more sad because I’m sad for souls. I want my heart, I pray for my heart to break over what breaks God’s heart. And I just think about all the people that have rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or don’t know the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Watch Bure’s reaction below:
Featured image credit: Ibex73, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Olympic_rings_on_the_Eiffel_Tower_2024_(10).jpg