The 2024 Paris Olympics kicked off Friday with the procession of athletes, the lighting of the Olympic torch — and an apparent replication of “The Last Supper” performed by drag queens.
Organizers were accused of ridiculing Christianity by featuring more than a dozen drag entertainers posing for a scene reminiscent of the Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece showing Jesus and his disciples sharing their last Passover meal before his betrayal, trial and crucifixion on the cross.
“Drag queens mock Christianity during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics in Paris as they attempt to recreate da Vinci’s painting of Jesus’ Last Supper,” said Shane Pruitt, a Texas pastor and author, on X. “Not only are Christians the only people that it is socially acceptable to mock … it’s actually celebrated and put front and center.”
Elon Musk, owner of X, said: “This was extremely disrespectful to Christians.”
The tableau showed a woman at the center of a long counter or table wearing a halo crown and holding her hands in a heart shape. She was flanked by drag queens, or men in exaggerated female costumes, as well as one child.
The scene culminated with a man representing Dionysius being served on a silver platter.
“The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings,” said the Paris Olympics on X.
Rep. August Pfluger, Texas Republican, said on X that the “Olympics are supposed to be a time of mutual respect and a reason to come together from around the world.”
“It is unacceptable that the opening ceremony mocked Christianity and the Last Supper and included a child in a drag queen performance,” he said.
Others offended by the performance included Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, a devout Catholic, who posted a video clip of the scene and quoted from Galatians 6:7-8, which begins, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked.”
WATCH: Olympics stages anti-Catholic “Last Supper” scene featuring drag queens during Opening Ceremonies
— CatholicVote (@CatholicVote) July 26, 2024
Simply filth.
Evil.pic.twitter.com/OYB4GUdDgB
Clint Russell, host of the Liberty Lockdown podcast, said “there are 2.4 billion Christians on earth and apparently the Olympics wanted to declare loudly to all of them, right out of the gate: NOT WELCOME.”
“The Last Supper” scene wasn’t the only time drag queens were featured in the opening ceremony. At another point, a blond drag performer dressed in a skimpy blue outfit writhed, danced and twerked down a catwalk, then danced with other drag queens.
Two days earlier, a drag queen received the Olympic torch after it arrived in Paris ahead of the games, which run from July 26 to Aug. 11.
We are absolutely disgusted to see these drag queens and half-naked gender cultists dance around little kids at the Olympics for the entire world to watch.
— Gays Against Groomers (@againstgrmrs) July 26, 2024
This agenda isn’t just an American issue. It’s global. And if this doesn’t horrify you, then you aren’t paying attention. pic.twitter.com/N6aHjmHzAi
All-American swimmer Riley Gaines said: “Men in wigs front & center at the Olympic Games. No one ever tell me this group is ‘oppressed’ or ‘marginalized’ again.”
The splashy opening ceremony featured the Olympic athletes arriving in a flotilla of boats down the Seine River; a fashion runway show; Celine Dion singing “Hymn to Love”; and a prerecorded performance of “Mon Truc en Plumes” by Lady Gaga.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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