Olympic ceremony's performer breaks silence after NFL star's Harrison Butker criticism

The "Naked Blue Man" has defended his involvement in Friday's divisive Olympic opening ceremony , which sparked outrage among some devout Christians including outspoken Kansas City Chiefs footballer Harrison Butker .

Performer Phillippe Katerine found himself at the eye of a social media storm following allegations that he was making a "mockery" of Leonardo da Vinci's renowned painting , The Last Supper, which portrays Jesus Christ and his apostles during their final meal ahead of Christ's crucifixion.

During the sequence that unfolded on a bridge over the Seine in Paris, featuring Katerine and an ensemble of drag queens , similarities were drawn to the famed piece of art, even though the official Olympic social channels sought to dissipate the fervor on Friday by claiming it was rather a representation of the Greek deity Dionysus.

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Dionysus, central to Greek mythology, is recognized as the deity of winemaking, orchards, fruitfulness, revelry, madness, ceremonial frenzy, religious ecstasy, and theatre.

High-profile Christian figures nonetheless took to social media platforms to express their indignation towards the act. Among them, Butker cited the scripture "Galatians 6:7-8".

His post read: "Be not deceived, God is not mocked. For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

Catholic Bishop Robert Barron took to video sharing his dismay, remarking: "I love the Olympics, so I turn on the opening ceremony of the Olympics. And what do I see now? It's in Paris, France, a city I love, I spent three years as a doctoral student there."

"I see this gross mockery of The Last Supper and I won't describe it any further. France felt evidently, as it's trying to put its best cultural foot forward, that the right thing to do is to mock this very central moment in Christianity where Jesus at his last supper gives his body and blood in anticipation of the cross."

Katerine, an actor and singer, has shrugged off such censures. Commenting to BFM TV, they said: "It wouldn't be fun if there were no controversy. Wouldn't it be boring if everyone agreed on this planet?"

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Thrice-victorious Super Bowl champ Butker has come to the fore as a well-known and vocal Catholic figure in America after his contentious commencement speech at Benedictine College in May raised eyebrows.

The 29-year-old stirred debates when he implored the graduating class from an all-girls school to prioritize becoming "homemakers" rather than chasing professional careers, also criticizing Joe Biden , supporters of abortion rights, and Pride Month in his address. The speech became a hit on social media and incited a petition demanding his dismissal from the Chiefs.

However, the organization and his teammates have supported Butker, who returned to training camp this week in preparation for the new season.

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