BTN News: The Vatican has spoken out about a scene from the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on July 26. This scene has caused a lot of controversies because many people think it looks like Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, “The Last Supper.” In this part of the show, there were drag queens and other members of the LGBTQ+ community. The Vatican and many Christians felt offended by this.
The Vatican’s statement, written in French, said it was sorry that Christians around the world were hurt by this scene. The Vatican did not like that this important event, which should bring people together, included what it called “ridiculous allusions to religion.” The scene showed Barbara Butch, a well-known DJ and producer in the LGBTQ+ community. She wore a silver headpiece that looked like a halo. She was surrounded by drag performers and dancers. Many people thought this looked like Jesus and his apostles in Da Vinci’s painting. Because of this, French Catholic bishops said it made fun of Christianity.
Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the ceremony, said he did not mean to reference “The Last Supper.” He said the scene was supposed to celebrate diversity and honor French banquets and food. Even though he explained this, people were still upset. The organizers of the Paris Olympics apologized to anyone who was hurt by the performance.
The Vatican’s response came a week after the scene caused an uproar. Catholic leaders around the world were already angry. It is not clear why the Vatican waited a week to respond. The Vatican spokesperson did not explain the delay.
This controversy shows how tricky it can be to balance artistic expression and respect for religion, especially at big events like the Olympics. It reminds event planners to think about how their choices might affect different people. They need to make sure their events are inclusive without offending anyone.
The incident at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony is a good example of how hard it can be to mix cultural representation with global respect. It shows the need for talking and understanding between different groups. This way, events can be truly inclusive and respectful of everyone involved.
