'Last Supper' outrage: Major US advertiser pulls out of Paris Olympics over drag show controversy

RIDGELAND, MISSISSIPPI: In a swift reaction to the controversial 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremonies, Mississippi-based telecommunications and technology company C Spire announced its decision to pull its advertising from the global event.

The drastic move came after a performance during the ceremonies, which included drag queens and dancers, drew quite a backlash for its apparent parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting, 'The Last Supper'.

C Spire's response to mockery of  Olympics performance 

C Spire made its stance clear on Saturday morning, July 27, a few hours after the opening ceremony, which had sparked outrage across the globe. The company took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express its dismay.

“We were shocked by the mockery of the Last Supper during the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics. C Spire will be pulling our advertising from the Olympics,” the company stated.

In response to inquiries from the New York Post, C Spire declined to provide specific details about the nature of the advertisements pulled or the financial investment involved in their Olympic sponsorship.

However, Suzy Hays, the President and CEO of C Spire, underscored the company’s position in a statement: “C Spire is supportive of our athletes who have worked so hard to be a part of the Olympics. However, we will not be a part of the offensive and unacceptable mockery of the Last Supper, which is why we’re pulling our advertising from the Olympics.”

The performance that ignited the controversy took place at the opening of the Paris Olympics, set against the picturesque backdrop of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River. The segment began with three French drag queens and other elaborately dressed dancers presenting what appeared to be a parody of "The Last Supper."

The centerpiece of this act was a bedazzled woman adorned with a large silver headdress resembling a halo, which seemed to mock traditional depictions of Jesus. This figure made a heart shape with her hands, while her peers engaged in a choreographed dance routine.

Following the uproar, Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony, defended the production during a press conference on Sunday. Jolly explained that the intention behind the performance was to celebrate “inclusion” rather than to be provocative. “Our subject was not to be subversive. We never wanted to be subversive. We wanted to talk about diversity. Diversity means being together,” Jolly said.

“We wanted to include everyone, as simple as that. In France, we have freedom of creation, artistic freedom. We are lucky in France to live in a free country. I didn’t have any specific messages that I wanted to deliver. In France, we are republic, we have the right to love whom we want, we have the right not to be worshippers, we have a lot of rights in France, and this is what I wanted to convey," he added.

Jolly further clarified his intentions in a conversation with The Associated Press. “My wish isn’t to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock,” he said. “Most of all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide.”

Religious and political backlash over C Spire's performance 

Despite Jolly’s explanation, the performance drew sharp criticism from various quarters, particularly from religious conservatives.

Marion Marechal, a practicing Catholic, took to X to express her disapproval: “To all the Christians of the world who are watching the #Paris2024 ceremony and felt insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not France that is speaking but a left-wing minority ready for any provocation.”

Eduard Habsburg, Hungary’s ambassador to the Vatican, also voiced his discontent on X. 

"Correct me if I'm wrong but there seems to be a certain fixation with decapitated Marie-Antoinette in France, hein?" he wrote, adding, “...because decapitating Habsburgs and ridiculising central Christian events are really the FIRST two things that spring to mind when you think of #OlympicGames."

The backlash extended into the political arena as well.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, who initially refrained from condemning the performance, later praised C Spire’s decision to withdraw its advertisements. “I am proud to see the private sector in Mississippi put their foot down,” said Reeves on X. “God will not be mocked. C Spire drew a common-sense, appropriate line.”

Several other lawmakers joined in the criticism.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La, condemned the performance as an affront to Christian values: "Last night’s mockery of the Last Supper was shocking and insulting to Christian people around the world who watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The war on our faith and traditional values knows no bounds today. But we know that truth and virtue will always prevail.”

Johnson also referenced the Bible verse John 1:15, which states, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene used X to express her outrage, accusing the French Olympic Committee of attempting to suppress criticism of the ceremony.

“The French Olympic Committee has been hard at work taking down videos of their satanic, trans, and occult opening ceremonies claiming copyright laws,” she wrote. “It’s our first amendment right to share these videos and our outright over the anti-Christian Olympic opening ceremonies.”

Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini also weighed in, slamming the opening ceremony’s portrayal of religious symbols. He posted a picture of the drag queens superimposed over an image of "The Last Supper," writing, “Opening the Olympics by insulting billions of Christians around the world was a really bad start, dear French. Seedy.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.