Stephen A. warns of political fallout from Last Supper blasphemy

Stephen A. Smith has criticised the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games, focusing on the potential political fallout from a controversial segment amidst the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election.

The scene in question featured drag queens and dancers at a long table, which many perceived as resembling Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper." This portrayal sparked backlash among Christians worldwide, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, who called it "shocking and insulting."

Smith expressed his concern about the timing of such an artistic choice, especially with the critical election approaching. He stated, "Why would you want to take that risk when elections are coming up? When it comes to politics, every little thing matters as an election approaches, especially religion." He pointed out that while the organisers aimed to promote inclusion, they inadvertently alienated a significant portion of the audience, which could have political ramifications.

Smith also criticised the lack of transparency from the organisers, saying, "You should have made sure it wasn't depicting The Last Supper. You should have made sure nobody had the ammunition to say that it was." He emphasised that the organisers should have anticipated the reaction, noting, "Surely you must have had an idea that people would have reacted to this."

The official Olympics page described the scene as an interpretation of the Greek god Dionysus, aiming to highlight the absurdity of human violence. However, Smith argued that the focus should have been on avoiding unnecessary controversy during a politically sensitive time. "When it comes to politics, every little thing matters," he concluded, stressing the importance of considering the broader implications of artistic decisions in such high-profile events.