Open in App
  • Local
  • U.S.
  • Election
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Education
  • Real Estate
  • Newsletter
  • Variety

    Olympics: DJ in Opening Ceremony Scene Compared to ‘Last Supper’ Files Police Reports After Receiving Death Threats

    By Ellise Shafer,

    2 hours ago
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4FMSvV_0uhbKYtN00

    French DJ and activist Barbara Butch said on Monday that she has filed several police reports after receiving death threats for her participation in an Olympics opening ceremony tableau that drew comparisons to Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.”

    The scene, which featured drag queens and other members of the LGBTQ community, was the subject of backlash from the Catholic Church as well as prominent conservative figures like Rob Schneider and Candace Cameron Bure . Olympics artistic director Thomas Jolly told French outlet BFMTV over the weekend that the segment was not inspired by “The Last Supper,” and was instead a tribute to Greek mythology — but it has continued to stoke controversy.

    Butch made the announcement on her Instagram account Monday night by posting a statement from her attorney, Audrey Msellati, who said Butch has been “the target of an extremely violent campaign of cyber-harassment and defamation.”

    Msellati continued, “She has been threatened with death, torture and rape, and has also been the target of numerous antisemitic, homophobic, sexist and grossophobic insults. Barbara Butch condemns this vile hatred directed at her, what she represents and what she stands for. She is today filing several complaints against these acts, whether committed by French nationals or foreigners, and intends to prosecute anyone who tries to intimidate her in the future.”

    During the opening ceremony, Butch was in the center of the tableau, DJing while sporting a silver headpiece and blue dress. In an Instagram post, Butch called her look that of an “Olympian music goddess.”

    Olympics organizers apologized for any misrepresentation during a press conference following the ceremony, with spokesperson Anne Descamps saying that “clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group … If people have taken any offense we are really sorry.”

    The Paris Prosecutor’s Office and representatives for the Paris Olympics did not immediately respond to Variety ‘s request for comment.

    Expand All
    Comments / 0
    Add a Comment
    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
    Most Popular newsMost Popular

    Comments / 0