Olympics Paris 2024: Opening Ceremony–‘Last Supper’ Tableau

Trump: Olympics Opening Ceremony a ‘Disgrace’ for Mocking ‘Last Supper,’ Though Organizers Said the Tableau Was a Nod to Dionysus

ST CLOUD, MINNESOTA - JULY 27: U.S. Republican Presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a rally at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center on July 27, 2024 in St Cloud, Minnesota. Trump hopes to flip the state of Minnesota this November, which hasn't been carried by a Republican in a presidential election since 1972. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
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Donald Trump told Fox News host Laura Ingraham that the Paris Olympics opening ceremony was a “disgrace” due to its tableau that some viewers believed to be a recreation of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.”

The Olympics version replaced the painting’s religious figures with drag queens. However, organizers for the event have stressed the moment was not a nod to “The Last Supper” but to the feast of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine.

When Ingraham brought up how the opening ceremony mocked “The Last Supper,” Trump weighed in and said: “I thought it was a disgrace.” The Fox News host then asked if Trump will “have enough influence on the organizers that we won’t be insulting Christians” if he is elected president again, as his potential term would overlap with the 2028 summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Calif.

The opening ceremony tableau was scorned by Rob Schneider and Candace Cameron Bure. Schneider said he would be boycotting the rest of the Paris games because the controversial tableau openly celebrated Satan. Bure called the tableau “disgusting.”

Olympics artistic director Thomas Jolly spoke to French outlet BFMTV after the opening ceremony and denied that “The Last Supper” even served as a reference. Instead, Jolly said the idea was to “have a grand pagan festival connected to the gods of Olympus” as the tableau prominently featured a version of Dionysus.

Olympics spokesperson Anne Descamps told the AP that “clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group,” adding: “We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense we are really sorry.”

French DJ and activist Barbara Butch filed police reports after receiving death threats for her participation in the segment. The Paris Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to Variety that a complaint for cyber-harassment had been received.

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