Paris Olympics organizers defended the opening ceremony of the Olympics on Sunday amid backlash over the performance’s apparent mockery of The Last Supper.
The opening ceremony was condemned by U.S. leaders, world leaders, Christian groups and athletes because of its depiction of one of Christianity’s most revered events.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Drag queen Piche prepares to perform at the Pont Debilly in Paris during the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics on Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
The ceremony resembled a performance of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous work The Last Supper. The dance troupe included drag queens, a transgender model and a nude singer stylized to resemble the Greek god Dionysus.
Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps spoke about this on Sunday.
“There was clearly never any intention to disrespect any religious group. (The opening ceremony) was an attempt to celebrate community tolerance,” Descamps told reporters, via Reuters.
“We believe that this ambition has been achieved. If people have been offended, we are truly sorry.”
The Eiffel Tower is illuminated in the rain in Paris during the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
LIVE NEWS: PARIS OLYMPICS CONTINUE AS LAST SUPPER PARODY DRAWS INTENSE SCRUTINY
Another French LGBT leader suggested the ceremony did not go far enough.
“We know that in the LGBTQ community in France, we are far from what the ceremony showed. There is a lot of progress to be made in society regarding transgender people. It is terrible that to legally change their identity, they are forced to go to trial,” said James Leperlier, president of Inter-LGBT.
“If you had seen the opening ceremony last night, you would have thought that it was like this normally, but it is not the case. France tried to show what it should be and not what it is.”
The Trocadéro hall, with the Eiffel Tower in the background, during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games. (François-Xavier Marit/Pool via Reuters)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker and former MLB star Roy Oswalt are among those who have spoken out against the parody.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
