International Olympic Committee Scrutinized Over Opening Ceremony

The Olympic Games opening ceremony in Paris on Friday has been scrutinized for reportedly depicting a parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s rendition of the Last Supper.

The Details: The portion of the ceremony under scrutiny featured 18 drag performers, one of whom experienced a wardrobe malfunction, aligned together along one side of a table. According to Olympic organizers, the scene depicted an ancient festival meant to honor the Greek god Dionysus, whose character was played by a semi-nude figure painted blue.

Key Quote: “There was never an intention to show disrespect to a religious group,” a spokeswoman for the Olympics said. “If people have taken any offense, we are, of course, really sorry.” Another spokesperson told the Washington Times (Lean Right bias) that the ceremony's organizer "took inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting to create the setting."

For Context: Many went to social media to share both concerns and anger over what some classified as “a demonic inversion of the Christian sacrament.” In response, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) removed a video of the ceremony and reportedly filed copyright strikes against users on X who shared the video.

How the Media Covered It: Sources from the left, like CBS News (Lean Left bias), emphasized that organizers and performers did not intend to offend, highlighting statements that showed how organizers only wished to promote diversity and tolerance. Outlets on the right, like National Review (Lean Right bias), focused on criticisms and concerns from those offended, while also showing that Jill Biden called the ceremony “spectacular.”  Some also focused on various calls to boycott the Olympics, featuring people like comedian Rob Schneider saying he “cannot watch an Olympics that disrespects Christianity.” Updated 7/30/24 with Washington Times report.