Organizers of the Olympic Games in Paris issued an apology today to Catholics and other Christians who may have been offended by a parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, “The Last Supper,” featured during the opening ceremony on Friday.
The performance featured 18 performers posing behind a long table, mirroring the depiction of Jesus and His 12 apostles in da Vinci’s painting. Among the performers were drag queens, a trans model, and a naked singer portraying the god Dionysus, which led to condemnation from the Catholic Church.
“Clearly there was no intention to disrespect any religious group. The opening ceremony sought to celebrate tolerance within the community. We believe this ambition has been achieved. We are very sorry if people were offended,” Paris 2024 spokeswoman Anne Deschamps said during a news conference.