The organizers of the Paris Olympics apologized to anyone who was offended by a scene that reminded them of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” and caused a stir among religious conservatives across the globe on Friday (July 26) during the opening ceremony.
The organizers, however, insisted “The Last Supper” wasn’t the inspiration of the scene. The LGBTQ+ legend and self-described “love activist,” DJ and producer Barbara Butch was the star of the Debilly Bridge tableau. She energized the mob on the footbridge over the Seine while sporting a silver headpiece that looked like a halo. Drag performers, dancers, and other performers joined her, resulting in a colourful and exciting scene.
The contentious event showcased Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, modelled after Jan Harmensz van Biljert’s 17th-century painting The Feast of the Gods at the Magnin Museum in Dijon, according to CBS News correspondent Elaine Cobbe.
Thetis and Peleus’ marriage is celebrated by the Greek gods on Mount Olympus in this artwork, which has a prominent figure at the dinner table surrounded by a halo of light.
Director: Dionysus Scene is ‘Festivity,’ Not ‘Last Supper’
In an interview with France’s BFMTV, opening ceremony director Thomas Jolly made it clear that “The Last Supper” was not the inspiration for the scene.
He emphasized that the sequence was named “Festivity” and said that “Dionysus arrives at the table because he is the Greek God of celebration.” Jolly’s intention was not to make comparisons to the well-known biblical event but to emphasize the celebratory energy that Dionysus personified.
Jolly stated; “The intention was to establish a sizable heathen gathering connected to the God of Mount Olympus. You won’t find any intention to make fun of anyone in myself or my work.”
The official Olympic Games social media account emphasizes the meaning of the Greek god Dionysus, highlighting the ridiculousness of human violence. This viewpoint, which is in line with the Olympic Games’ unifying spirit, encourages us to consider the pointlessness of conflict and spreads a message of harmony and peace.