The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics generated uproar after a scene from one of the several bizarre performances that seemingly mocked Christianity. In one shot, a woman could be seen surrounded by what appears to be bearded men dressed in drag queen attire. The setup seemed to be mocking the famous painting by Leonardo DaVinci, “The Last Supper,” which depicts the final meal Jesus shared with his twelve apostles before facing crucifixion.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ Harrison Butker called out the parody of the prominent Christian artwork, quoting a verse in the Bible that reads, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked.” Butker has made headlines in recent months for unapologetically sharing his Christian faith, facing much criticism from members of the secular left who often oppose Christian values.
Butker took to X, sharing a clip of the mockery while quoting Galatians 6:7-8. He wrote in his caption, “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.”
The Christian Tribune previously reported on comments from the artistic director of the Paris Olympics, Thomas Jolly, who illustrated the objectives of the controversial ceremony. “Above all, I want this ceremony to include everyone. We must all celebrate this diversity.” He said, “I was overwhelmed at first. I wondered how I could create a show where everyone can feel represented as part of this great union. This responsibility was ambitious, complex, but magnificent for an artist.”
Jolly further claimed he wanted to avoid playing on the stereotypes associated with Parisian culture seen throughout the media. Instead he sought to highlight the “vibrant youth” and “different cultures” that interact in the streets of Paris. “When we watch ‘Emily in Paris’ or ‘Amélie Poulain,’ we know it’s not quite the real Paris. We’re going to play with all those cliches, but we’re also going to challenge them. Paris is also a vibrant youth. Different cultures rubbing shoulders in the streets. I’ll be fired if I tell you anything. All I can tell you is that it will be very meaningful for the artists that will perform.”
Harrison Butker made headlines earlier this year for his commencement speech at Benedictine College where he expressed his Catholic values to the audience. Butker’s comments proved to be triggering, particularly for those on the secular left, where he faced immense criticism for his remarks.
Butker said in part of his speech, “For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives,” he said. “I want to speak directly to you briefly, because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you. How many of you are sitting here now, about to cross this stage, and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”
Featured image credit: By Airman 1st Class William Lunn – https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7984088/chiefs-military-appreciation, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=136494880