Who is the ‘blue man’? Olympics opening ceremony figure unmasked

He was the most controversial figure of the Olympic Games opening ceremony and now the man behind the blue paint has been unmasked.

Philippe Katerine is an accomplished French singer and actor who has forged a successful three-decade career on stage and screen.

Ever since the highly controversial Paris Olympics opening ceremony last Friday night, however, Katerine has been known by another name, “semi-naked blue guy”.

The 55-year-old was part of the most controversial scene of the four-hour ceremony epic, which was entitled “Festivity”.

The performance was perceived by many as a parody of Leonard da Vinci’s The Last Supper painting of Jesus and his 12 disciples.

It featured a number of performers in drag and multiple dancers behind a catwalk, which resembled a long table, before the camera panned to Katerine.

Philippe Katerine, the French singer-songwriter who appeared naked and painted blue.

The French entertainer was depicted as Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, and sang a song “wearing” only glittery blue paint, donning a bright orange beard and some carefully placed flowers.

Katerine’s song was called Nue, which means “naked” in English, and is a track he has performed a number of times in the past.

In an interview with CNN, the Frenchman explained the song is meant as a message of peace and also had elements relevant to the Olympic Games.

“Would there have been wars if we’d stayed naked?” he said.

“The answer is perhaps not because you can’t hide a gun or a dagger when you’re naked.

“So you’ve got this idea of harmlessness when it comes to the naked man.

“And the idea of the origins of the Olympic Games in Greece, which are represented today because when you see paintings they’re of naked athletes too, also with the idea that they can’t carry weapons when they’re naked.

“This was also the idea behind the origins of the Olympic Games. So there I came, simply, to sing this song.”

Katerine in a more conventional pose. Photo: Wikipedia

The scene became a viral talking point, with some Catholic groups and French bishops condemning what they saw as “scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity”.

AFL great Corey McKernan also weighed into the drama.

“What is amazing if the shoe was on the other foot … if there’s even a hint of being offensive – the carry on would be next level,” McKernan tweeted.

“Imagine thinking of the concept at planning level – surely you’d think we may upset a few people?”

The mastermind of the ambitious ceremony, Thomas Jolly, rejected criticism his boundary-breaking show had gone too far.

He stated it had created a “cloud of tolerance” and denied any reference to The Last Supper.

Olympic organisers did issue an apology after the firestorm erupted.

The man behind the Olympic controversy.

Delegations arrive at the Trocadero as spectators watch Katerine performing on a giant screen. (Photo by Ludovic Marin – Pool/Getty Images)

“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group,” Paris 2024 spokeswoman Anne Descamps told reporters.

“If people have taken any offence, we are of course really, really sorry.”

Katerine also apologised over what he called “mostly a misunderstanding”.

“I was brought up as a Christian and the best thing about Christianity is forgiveness,” he said

“For me, it’s the most beautiful thing there is: forgiveness.

“So I ask for forgiveness if I have offended anyone and the Christians of the world will grant me that, I’m sure and will understand that it was mostly a misunderstanding.

“Because when it comes down to it, it wasn’t about representing The Last Supper at all.”

Originally published as Who is the ‘blue man’? Olympics opening ceremony figure unmasked