Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
New York Post
French church leaders, Chiefs’ Harrison Butker slam apparent drag ‘parody of Last Supper’ at 2024 Paris Olympics: ‘Mockery’
By Olivia Land, Eileen Reslen,
2 days ago
They might need to wash this down with wine.
Controversial Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker slammed the apparent 2024 Paris Olympics’ drag queen recreation of the “Last Supper” as “crazy” — as French religious officials denounced the performance as a “mockery” of Christianity.
The controversial “Last Supper” display made headlines during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics Friday. Clint Russell / X Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker took to Instagram to denounce the apparent parody. Instagram
The setup was a play on the final meal between Jesus Christ and his apostles as depicted in the New Testament — and most famously recreated by Leonardo da Vinci’s mural from the 1490s.
One of the performers was posed to apparently resemble Jesus Christ. Clint Russell / X Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker came under fire after his May commencement speech urging female graduates to embrace their “vocation” in marriage and motherhood instead of careers. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
His reaction to the opening ceremony performance echoed that of the Bishops’ Conference of France, the national organization of Catholic bishops.
In a statement released early Saturday, the group denounced the performance as “scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity, which we deeply deplore.”
“We thank the members of other religious denominations who have expressed their solidarity. This morning, we think of all Christians on all continents who have been hurt by the outrage and provocation of certain scenes,” they added.
Bishop Donald Hying of Madison, Wis., went a step further , and called on Catholics to “fast and pray, renew our devotion to the Eucharist, the Sacred Heart and the Virgin Mary.”
A Paris 2024 spokesperson pushed back on the criticism of the drag recreation.
“Clearly, there was never an intention to show disrespect towards any religious group or belief. On the contrary, each of the tableaux in the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony were intended to celebrate community and tolerance,” they told Page Six Saturday .
Artistic director Thomas Jolly “took inspiration from Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous painting” of the Last Supper for the ceremony’s “Festivities” segment to “create the setting,” they added.
“He is not the first artist to make a reference to what is a world-famous work of art,” the spokesperson concludes. “From Andy Warhol to the Simpsons, many have done it before him.”
For the latest in sports, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/sports/
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0