Drag queen doubles down on Olympics Last Supper ‘mockery’
-Instagram@barbarabutch
Barbara Butch, one of the artists involved in the controversial opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, confirmed that the performance was intended to parody Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper.
Butch, who portrayed Jesus in the parody while wearing a silver headdress and low-cut dress, shared on her Instagram profile that she is a “Love activist, DJ, and producer based in Paris,” aiming to unite people through music.
She posted an image of the drag parody juxtaposed with Da Vinci’s original painting with the caption:
“Oh yes! Oh yes! The new gay testament!”
The post was later deleted.
Hard to believe the “apology” when the lady in the center of it made a huuuuge post about it being
“The New Gay Testament” pic.twitter.com/ReTonFu6Lh— 🪶Native Patriot 🇺🇸 (@LaNativePatriot) July 28, 2024
These confirmations contrast with the explanation offered by the Paris Olympics’ organising committee, which stated that the controversial scene was an “interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus” aimed at highlighting the absurdity of human violence.
NEW: The artistic director responsible for the Paris opening ceremony says he mocked 2.4 billion Christians with drag queens so “everybody feels represented.”
During an interview, Thomas Jolly opened up about the “beautiful responsibility” he has as an “artist.”
“How do you… pic.twitter.com/qOb5CD2tQs— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 27, 2024
The French Bishops Conference criticised the performance, stating it included scenes of "mockery and derision of Christianity," which they deeply regretted. They acknowledged the ceremony's overall beauty and joy but noted the hurt caused to Christians worldwide by these provocative scenes.
In response to the backlash, Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps issued a soft apology, stating, "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." Thomas Jolly, the ceremony’s artistic director, echoed this sentiment, expressing that the performance aimed to send a message of love and inclusion, not to provoke or shock.
Despite the apologies, the performance has sparked significant debate, with some commentators suggesting it referenced the feast of Dionysus rather than the Last Supper. Nonetheless, the artists' statements confirm their intention to parody the iconic painting, stirring considerable controversy in its wake.