‘Mockery of Christianity’: Outrage over France’s Olympics opening ceremony Last Supper
The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics has been condemned by the Christian comunity after drag queens and dancers appeared in a section that resembled The Last Supper.
The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics has been labelled a “mockery” and condemned by the Christian comunity after drag queens and dancers appeared in a section that resembled The Last Supper.
The scene included French actor Philippe Katerine, who was painted blue and wearing little more than a bunch of flowers.
The scene quickly went viral, with social media users around the world unleashing over the decision to insult Christians around the world.
Australia’s former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack accused the ceremony’s artistic director, Thomas Jolly, of undermining Australian Christians who sacrificed their life to defend France.
“The Olympics opening ceremony ‘artistic’ director who felt the need to mock The Last Supper & thereby Christianity should be reminded of the great sacrifice of Christian soldiers, including tens upon tens of 1000s of Australians buried in (French) soil who died to save that country,” Mr McCormack said on social media.
Jolly defended the show in the face of backlash and accusations of “wokeism”.
He said his intention was about “inclusion” and “diversity”.
“Our idea was inclusion,” he said in an official Olympics press conference. “We wanted to talk about diversity. Diversity means being together, we wanted to include everybody.
“In France, we have artistic freedom. We are lucky in France to live in a free country.”
AFL legend and devout Christian Corey McKernan questioned the thought process behind the planning. “What is amazing is 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 said in a tweet. “Imagine thinking of the concept at planning level – surely you’d think we may upset a few people?”
Melbourne’s St Peter and Paul’s Catholic Cathedral bishop Andrew Mukukuoi told The Australian the act was a distasteful joke. “I think it was offensive to all Christians around the world,” he said. “It was a mockery because they made a joke of something that was really important for Christians – the Last Supper was when Christ gave us his body.
“They didn’t mock any other religion but chose to make a joke of Christianity.
“It was a distasteful thing to watch; whoever commissioned this should be held to account.”
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