The organizing committee of the 2024 Paris Olympics has apologized to Christians who were outraged that drag queens reenacted the Last Supper during the Olympics’ opening ceremony.
Organizers claimed the Biblical scene was “intended to interpret Dionysus and raise awareness of the absurdity of violence between human beings.”
The Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps stated, “Clearly, there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. [The opening ceremony] tried to celebrate community tolerance.”
“We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offence we are really sorry.” added Descamps.
Olympic organizers apologize to anyone who was offended during the opening ceremonies. It’s not really an apology though, it’s just another tiring attempt to say it was about inclusivity. It’s not inclusive when you mock billions of people’s religious beliefs. pic.twitter.com/xM305psf6y
— Ryan Gerritsen🇨🇦🇳🇱 (@ryangerritsen) July 28, 2024
JUST IN: Paris Olympics organizers issue apology after they mocked Christianity during their opening ceremony.
Organizers say they are “really sorry” if they offended anyone, saying there was “never an intention” of offending Christians.
“Clearly there was never an intention to… pic.twitter.com/PFsO1QtM8l
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 28, 2024
Per The Guardian:
The organising committee of Paris 2024 has apologised to Catholics and other Christian groups who were outraged by a scene during the opening ceremony that evoked Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper painting with drag queens, a transgender model and a singer made up as the Greek god of wine.
The parody of the biblical scene, performed against the backdrop of the River Seine, was intended to interpret Dionysus and raise awareness “of the absurdity of violence between human beings”, organisers wrote on X.
The committee was forced to apologise after the performance caused outrage among Catholics, Christian groups and conservative politicians around the world.
“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. [The opening ceremony] tried to celebrate community tolerance,” the Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps told a press conference. “We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offence we are really sorry.”
France has a rich Catholic heritage but also has a long tradition of secularism and anti-clericalism. Blasphemy is legal and considered by many to be an essential pillar of freedom of speech. Supporters of the tableau praised its message of inclusivity and tolerance.
WOKE – Ahh and here’s the apology but a denial of intent.
The Olympic committee grudgingly apologises for insulting 3 Billion people. By claiming they wanted inclusivity, … by excluding billions.
Epic fail 🤡 pic.twitter.com/gpbOZMQJGU
— Bernie (@Artemisfornow) July 28, 2024
Check out what AP reported:
Paris Olympics organizers apologized to anyone who was offended by a tableau that evoked Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” during the glamorous opening ceremony, but defended the concept behind it Sunday.
Da Vinci’s painting depicts the moment when Jesus Christ declared that an apostle would betray him. The scene during Friday’s ceremony featured DJ and producer Barbara Butch — an LGBTQ+ icon — flanked by drag artists and dancers.
Religious conservatives from around the world decried the segment, with the French Catholic Church’s conference of bishops deploring “scenes of derision” that they said made a mockery of Christianity — a sentiment echoed by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. The Anglican Communion in Egypt expressed its “deep regret” Sunday, saying the ceremony could cause the IOC to “lose its distinctive sporting identity and its humanitarian message.”
The ceremony’s artistic director Thomas Jolly had distanced his scene from any “Last Supper” parallels after the ceremony, saying it was meant to celebrate diversity and pay tribute to feasting and French gastronomy. Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps was asked about the outcry during an International Olympic Committee news conference on Sunday.
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