Paris Olympics organizers say they meant no disrespect with 'Last Supper' tableau | AP Explains

(29 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Paris - 29 July 2024
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Thomas Adamson, The Associated Press:
"The four hour Olympic opening ceremony was one of the most watched in Olympic history, but it was also one of the most talked about, not least for its inclusion of drag queens and the LGBTQ community. This season, drag queens held global centre stage for the first time, including Nicky Doll of Drag Race France. But it was a perceived tableau of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper that drew the most attention and mixed reactions. The far right here in France called it a provocation, whilst many Catholics all over the globe were united in their distaste for it. Thomas Jolly defended it, the artistic director of the opening ceremony deflecting attention, saying it was more about the Greek god Dionysus, the god of festivities and Olympic organisers said it was all to celebrate the community tolerance that France represents. This Monday, Pride House is being inaugurated and the French Sports Minister is here herself to show France's inclusive tolerance and to show and introduce France's first LGBTQ + safe space for the Olympics."
STORYLINE:
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.

“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. On the contrary, I think (with) Thomas Jolly, we really did try to celebrate community tolerance,” Descamps said. “Looking at the result of the polls that we shared, we believe that this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense we are, of course, really, really sorry.”

Jolly explained his intentions to The Associated Press after the ceremony.

“My wish isn’t to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock,” Jolly said. “Most of all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide.”

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[christoflood]

They knew exactly what they were doing. I'm not even religious and that shit was disgusting. Gross

[abrahamlupis]

I would prefer the girls from Cuties dancing over what Thomas Jolly did

[wbbbiqd]

wow you really think I am going to believe this

[ronaldgoldson]

""KILROY WAS HERE""