The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics sparked outrage over an alleged blasphemous depiction of the Last Supper, but a new theory has emerged about what the bizarre performance was really about.
US-based Reverend Benjamin Cremer shared a post on social media dispelling the accusation that the controversial drag scene mocked Leonardo da Vinci’s classical painting and therefore Christianity.
The message reads: “It was a representation of the event called the Feast of Dionysus, the Greek god of festivities, celebrations, rituals and theatre.”
‘The Olympic Games are part of Greek culture and tradition. French culture is deeply rooted in celebration, festivities and performing arts.’
According to theory, the scene depicted at the opening ceremony was based on a painting called ‘The Banquet of the Gods’ by Johann Rottenhammer and Jan Bruegel, from around 1602.
‘This painting is not specifically of Dionysus, but shows how festivals were often depicted during the Renaissance period, with much Greek influence.’
«It may resemble the feast of Dionysus and it may also recall the Last Supper.»
‘That’s because during the Renaissance, many paintings depicting a party had a table with people on one side (and maybe a few at the front ends) and had them sitting and standing in different positions.’
The catwalk-turned-stage element for the opening ceremony was criticized by some Christians for appearing to be a parody of the Last Supper.
The Rev. Benjamin Cremer shared a post saying the opening ceremony scene was referencing a different painting and not the Last Supper.
Adding weight to Ms Pafford’s argument, her post was shared by a pastor.
The Rev. Cassie Rapko wrote: “It was not the Last Supper, which is celebrated in Italy, not in France. It was the Feast of Dionysus.”
The responses to Ms Pafford’s post were full of support.
“Thanks. I didn’t automatically realize they were deliberately mocking the Last Supper, but some clearly did…” wrote one Facebook user.
“Finally, a voice of reason,” wrote another.
An artist painted blue and covered in flowers and fruit, representing the Greek god Dionysus, sang in French.
French actor and singer Phillippe Katerine played the role of the Greek god of wine Dionysus; he was referred to online as the “naked blue man.”
Spectators believed the performance was a reenactment of the famous biblical scene of Jesus Christ and his twelve apostles sharing a last meal before the crucifixion.
But the performance, which also involved a troupe of drag queens and a transgender model, has caused offence among some Christians as a “crude mockery” of religion.
Complete with models, dancers, fashion icons and drag queens from the host country, the performance took place on a bridge over the capital’s river around a table that also served as a catwalk.
In the center was a woman in front of a DJ set wearing a gold halo-style crown, surrounded by several drag queens and dozens of dancers and performers.
A fashion show featuring clothes designed by some of France’s most promising young designers took centre stage, while those seated on either side performed elegant choreographies.
Among those in attendance was Drag Race icon Nicky Doll, who appeared on the French franchise, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World and now hosts the French version.
Although also hampered by difficult-to-listen music, many young people and fans of the popular TV show took to social media to praise the picture, which was meant to reflect the atmosphere of a nightclub and featured dancing and lip-syncing on the soaking-wet stage.
But others were less impressed, accusing organisers of creating a “woke” parody of the Last Supper, a painting by Leonardo da Vinci depicting Jesus’ final meal with his disciples.
Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla and SpaceX, who has been criticized for his conservative beliefs, including toward his own daughter, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the performance was “extremely disrespectful to Christians.”
And he added: “Christianity has become ineffective.”
Christians including Elon Musk have criticised the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics for an apparent parody of the Last Supper, as technical problems and rain-soaked performers meant only Canadian singer Celine Dion could save the day.
But among the various artistic paintings, named after French values such as liberty, fraternity and equality, it was the depiction in the style of the Last Supper in the atmosphere of “festivité” (or party) that caused the most controversy.
Complete with models, dancers, fashion icons and drag queens from the host country, the performance took place on a bridge over the capital’s river around a table that also served as a catwalk.
In the center was a woman in front of a DJ set wearing a gold halo-style crown, surrounded by several drag queens and dozens of dancers and performers.
Elon Musk took to X to reveal his discontent with last night’s ceremony
A fashion show featuring clothes designed by some of France’s most promising young designers took centre stage, while those seated on either side performed elegant choreographies.
Among those in attendance was Drag Race icon Nicky Doll, who appeared on the French franchise, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World and now hosts the French version.
Although also hampered by difficult-to-listen music, many young people and fans of the popular TV show took to social media to praise the picture, which was meant to reflect the atmosphere of a nightclub and featured dancing and lip-syncing on the soaking-wet stage.
But others were less impressed, accusing organisers of creating a “woke” parody of the Last Supper, a painting by Leonardo da Vinci depicting Jesus’ final meal with his disciples.
Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla and SpaceX, who has been criticized for his conservative beliefs, including toward his own daughter, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the performance was “extremely disrespectful to Christians.”
And he added: “Christianity has become ineffective.”
Later in the show, the strangest moment of the night saw a giant tray adorned with fake fruit and other food, with a ‘smurf’ resting among them.
The man, dressed in a tight-fitting blue suit that left very little to the imagination, was dressed as the Greek god of wine, partying and theatre, Dionysus.
It was later revealed that he was French actor and singer Phillippe Katerine.