Olympics organizers have issued an apology for a scene during the opening ceremony of the Paris Summer Olympics that appeared to parody Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” with drag queens. The scene sparked outrage among some U.S. religious and conservative leaders and right-wing pundits, who criticized the decision to include the scene. Former CNN host Piers Morgan questioned whether the scene would have mocked any other religion, while House Speaker Mike Johnson called it “shocking and insulting to Christian people around the world.”
Celebrities and public figures also weighed in on the controversy, with Donald Trump Jr. re-posting a photo of the depiction and Elon Musk calling it “extremely disrespectful to Christians.” Actor Rob Schneider announced that he would boycott watching the Olympics, stating that the scene disrespected Christianity and openly celebrated Satan. Candace Cameron Bure, known for her role in “Full House,” also condemned the parody as mocking the Christian faith and expressed sadness for what she perceived as a lack of respect for Christian beliefs.
Various Christian bishops also expressed their dismay over the parody, with some calling it a “gross mockery” and “blasphemy.” Conservative commentators voiced their criticism of the scene, with one suggesting it was a message to Christians that they are unwelcome and another claiming the Olympics had gone full Woke dystopian. Filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza labeled the parody as “blasphemous” and called it outrageous and disrespectful.
However, some social media users pointed out that the Olympics rendition of “The Last Supper” was not the first parody of the Da Vinci painting, which has been a frequent target of satire in various TV shows and celebrity portrayals of Jesus. The controversy surrounding drag queens in recent years has been linked to right-wing pushback against LGBTQ messaging and anti-trans legislation in some GOP-led states. Drag Story Hour events have faced protests, with some lawmakers baselessly claiming that the events sexualize children, leading to the introduction of legislation aimed at stopping the so-called “sexualization of children.”
Overall, the inclusion of the “Last Supper” parody in the Olympics opening ceremony has sparked a heated debate among various groups, with some condemning it as disrespectful to Christians and others viewing it as a form of artistic expression. The controversy reflects a broader cultural and political divide over issues related to LGBTQ rights, religious beliefs, and freedom of expression.
