Reflecting On The Olympics’ Controversial Commencement
Two weeks ago, the Paris 2024 Olympics commenced after much anticipation with a “revolutionary” opening ceremony. While many viewers applauded its artistry, some viewers felt the ceremony was controversial and absolutely outrageous.
From a grandiose pyrotechnic display featuring a “headless Marie Antoinette,” to a supposed drag queen recreation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” the ceremony certainly left the audience with much to digest. However, many viewers, blinded by disdain, failed to recognize the ceremony’s historical and cultural tributes.
Whether you loved it or hated it, Paris certainly kept its promise to deliver one of “the most memorable moments in Olympic history.” Let’s unpack it all.
Outrage… or Overreaction?
Many viewers wasted no time in sharing their disapproval of the opening ceremony. Particularly upsetting for most was the alleged reenactment of “The Last Supper.”
The controversial scene under scrutiny consisted of a woman with a halo-like crown, surrounded by a host of drag queens. Later, a nearly-naked man painted blue entered the scene on a dinner platter, surrounded by food. The tableau then turned into song, dance, and a runway show.
Immediately flocking online, many described the scene as controversial, offensive, and sacrilegious. Several influential figures shared their distaste for the ceremony as well. Former US president, Donald Trump, called it a “disgrace.”
US House Speaker, Mike Johnson, took to X to voice similar complaints. In a July 27 post, he said, “Last night’s mockery of the Last Supper was shocking and insulting to Christian people around the world who watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.”
The ceremony even managed to garner a response from several Vatican officials, such as top advisor, Archbishop Charles Scicluna. The archbishop wrote to the French Ambassador to Malta to express the “distress & the disappointment of many Christians at the gratuitous insult to the Eucharist during the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.”
In response to the backlash, the Paris Olympic organizers issued an apology on Sunday. The official video of the opening ceremony is also currently unavailable on YouTube, though several “highlight” videos remain. Additionally, the ceremony in its entirety is still available on the streaming platform Peacock.
Spokesperson Anne Descamps said, “Clearly, there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. If people have taken any offense, we are, of course, really, really sorry.”
Olympic Ceremonies choreographer Thomas Jolly added that “The Last Supper” was not his inspiration for the segment.
“The idea was to have a pagan celebration connected to the gods of Olympus. You will never find in me a desire to mock and denigrate anyone,” Jolly said.
The concept of a pagan celebration is further reinforced by the Olympics in a post uploaded shortly after the performance. The Olympics shared a photo of the blue man, French entertainer Philippe Katherine, on X with this caption: “The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings.”
Many viewers stood alongside the Olympic organizers in defending the ceremony. They pointed out further inconsistencies between the controversial scene and “The Last Supper.” For example, someone noted that there were far more characters in the segment than the number of apostles in da Vinci’s painting; which is 12.
Many likened it to a different painting altogether, called “The Feast of the Gods.” Painted by Dutch artist, Jan van Bijlert, “The Feast of the Gods” portrays the gods of Olympus crowded around a long table. Apollo, the sun god, sits at the center with a halo around his head. Clearly, similarities between this painting and the ceremony segment are also observable.
Symbolism: Sacrilegious or Subjective?
All things aside, it would be a shame to let controversy overshadow the artistry of the commencement. Even worse, it would defeat one of the main purposes of the Olympics: unity. Paris’ opening ceremony was still an extravagant display rich with historical significance and meaningful symbolism. Here’s some examples.
Immediately notable was the floating parade. Boats filled with athletes from every country made their way down the Siene River. Central to the city’s life and culture for centuries, the river represented a connection between past and present.
Along the river were several giant figures of prominent French individuals. Some of those included Joan of Arc, Napoleon, Joséphine Baker, Marie Curie, and Arsène Lupin. The figures showcased both French caricaturing traditions and historical personalities.
In fact, most of the symbolism used in the ceremony was a homage to Paris’ history and culture.
For instance, the torchbearers were masked because French culture is full of hooded characters. The Phantom of the Opera and the Man in the Iron Mask are just two examples.
Each singer — Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, and Aya Nakamura — paid homage to French music-hall traditions and celebrated Parisian cabaret culture through their performances. Nakamura, the world’s most popular contemporary French singer, was also accompanied by the French Republican Guard and a French army choir.
Several segments were a testimonial to France’s historical artistic traditions. For example, one paid tribute to the artisans and craftsmen responsible for building (and restoring) the famous Notre Dame Cathedral.
Another celebration is the iconic Louvre Museum, which houses famous paintings such as the “Mona Lisa” and “The Raft of the Medusa.” In a light-hearted twist, the “Mona Lisa” appeared in its own segment in which it was “stolen” by Minions — characters from the “Despicable Me” movies. Though made in the US, the movies were produced by a French filmmaker.
A few parts of the ceremony were a nod to France’s resilient spirit and the French Revolution. Most outstanding was the performance of revolutionary song, “Ah! ça ira,” by French heavy metal band, Gojira. Amid the intense pyrotechnic-filled performance was also a “headless Marie Antoinette,” who appeared to be “holding her own head.”
One segment highlighted a torchbearer traveling through scenes inspired by the famous musical “Les Misérables.” The musical was based off of French author, Victor Hugo’s, novel. This too was a reference to liberty, freedom, and justice, as it included revolutionary song, “Do You Hear the People Sing?”
Lastly, the ceremony also paid homage to the history and tradition of the Olympic Games themselves. For instance, take the woman on the metal horse who was seen galloping along the river. She was a representation of Sequana, Gallo-Roman goddess of the Siene. Even the naked blue man himself, Greek god Dionysus, was a reference to Ancient Greece, the gods of Olympus, and the Olympics’ heritage.
Those examples alone only skim the surface of the incredible blend of history, culture, art, and humanity that was the 2024 opening ceremony. To understand the depth of its depictions, one almost has to watch it for themselves.
Positive Perspectives
Despite the negative reviews from the majority of conservative and Christian communities, Paris’ opening ceremony still accumulated many admirers. Whether appreciative of the ceremony’s artistry or simply left in awe from the unique production, plenty of viewers shared positive perspectives.
One scroll beneath the criticism lies a number of supportive articles. Multiple journalists have used their platform to support the Olympics and question the critics, such as this AP article, or this article for The Hollywood Reporter.
Just as some celebrities and public figures spoke out against the ceremony, others rose to defend it. American Full House actress Jodie Sweetin slammed critics via a social media post, saying: “Tell me you don’t know about art or history without TELLING me you don’t know about art or history.”
Whoopi Goldberg, also an American actress and comedian, shared a valuable point for all viewers: if you don’t like what you see, change the channel. “They’re not trying to do anything except talk about the history. They’re showing you the history,” said Goldberg.
Other individuals have gone above and beyond to point out what the critics have missed, such as American activist Matt Bernstein. In a recent Instagram post, Bernstein asked bold questions such as, “Even if you thought [the ceremony] was a Christian reference — what’s the harm? Why is it a “parody” and not a tribute? Can drag queens not be Christian, too?”
Tackling the ongoing issues of transphobia and homophobia, Bernstein’s post also provides an alternative perspective. Even though it has been stated that the controversial scene was not meant to represent “The Last Supper,” why was it considered a “parody” rather than a tribute? After all, da Vinci’s iconic painting has been recreated by the media many times over the years.
In Closing
Good or bad, the 2024 Paris Olympics shocked the world with their opening ceremony. Controversy aside, the ceremony was one-of-one; it even achieved a few firsts. Paris gave us the first modern Olympics opening ceremony outside of a stadium, and the first to be on a river. It was the largest ceremony ever, allowing for thousands of in-person spectators and millions more via television. And, it broke tradition as a ceremony designed “by and for athletes;” making athletes the “heart and soul of the ceremony.”
Regardless of anything — opinion, religion, political or sexual orientation — focusing on the controversy only takes away from what makes the Olympics an extraordinary and timeless event. Continuing the debate also overshadows the life-long dedication of every single athlete, coach, and organizer whose hard work landed them in Paris this summer.
The Olympic Games should cultivate humanity and contribute to world peace, not the opposite. Not everyone has an eye for art — or for what was supposed to be an artistic homage to history, culture, and humanity — but if they don’t appreciate that, viewers should at least try to respect what actually makes the Olympics important.
