Vatican Addresses Controversial “Last Supper” Drag Performance at 2024 Paris Olympics
On Saturday the Vatican addressed the contentious drag performance during last week’s 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony that mocked Leonardo da Vinci’s famous “Last Supper” painting.
The part of the ceremony replaced the biblical scene of Jesus Christ and his evangelists partaking in a final meal before his crucifixion with drag queens. The model and singer dressed as Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and pleasure were both transgender.
@uraahub Just so you know… during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, Macron and his team parodied the Last Supper scene with drag queens and a fat woman crowned with an aureole. #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #foryou #olympics #macron #dragqueen #franceolympique #olympicsceremony2024 #uraahub ♬ original sound – URAAHUB
After receiving lots of criticism, the Vatican admitted that the performance showed a lack of “respect for others”.
“The Holy See was saddened by certain scenes at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games and cannot but join the voices raised in recent days to deplore the offense done to many Christians and believers of other religions,” it said.
“At a prestigious event where the whole world comes together to share common values, there should be no allusions ridiculing the religious convictions of many people. The freedom of expression, which is clearly not called into question here, is limited by respect for others,” the Vatican commented.
At first, the Olympic officials rejected that the performance surrounded Da Vinci’s painting, however, it was later revealed by a spokesperson that the performance was inspired by the painting.
During the performance, 18 performers, including three from “Drag Race France” posed behind a dining table positioned near the Seine River and Eiffel Tower.
The center featured a fancy-dressed woman with a big silver headdress, resembling a halo similar to the paintings of Jesus. Before her dance routine, she smiled and made a handheart.
Many French catholic bishops and other Christians found the show to be insulting. Former president, Donald Trump even commented on the show, calling it “a disgrace.”
The criticisms continued to grow, which led Paris Olympic organizers to come out with an apology, saying there was “never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group”, but instead to “celebrate community tolerance.”
Hugo Bardin, one of the drag queen performers said she didn’t regret the ceremony.
“We have been accused of trying to impose our vision on the world,” Bardin said. “We are not. … We just want to let people know that we have a place in the world, and we are claiming that place,” Bardin said to the Associated Press.
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