"Man dressed as a Smurf being served in a food platter": Internet calls out representation of Dionysus at the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

While netizens expressed displeasure with the reported recreation of The Last Supper at the Olympics opening ceremony in Paris, further criticism happened due to how Dionysus was represented at the event. While the act was on, a scantily dressed man covered in blue paint appeared, depicting Dionysus.

The Olympic Games shared on their official X handle a few images of the act, which was directed by Thomas Jolly, and wrote,

"The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings."

The interpretation of the Greek God didn't sit right with many netizens who were already enraged with the act showing The Last Supper at the event on July 26. For the unversed, according to The Collector, Dionysus is "the god of wine and grape harvest, but he also represented the wild and carefree aspects of ancient Greek society."

Netizens flooded social media platforms to express their opinions about the depiction of the Greek God in the opening ceremony. Here are some reactions:

"Olympics Opening Ceremony features a man dressed as a Smurf being served in a food platter..."

An enraged user on X (Image via X/@OliLondonTV)

"Sport turned into propaganda never looks good. Papa Smurf rolling in the fruit bowl is not appealing on any level." Wrote one user.

"The Olympics is becoming irrelevant. Less theatrics." Said another user.

While most netizens took the internet by storm, another set tried to clarify that the opening act wasn't depicting The Last Supper. An X user, @Jay_Beecher, wrote that the woman in the center wasn't trying to depict Jesus but instead portrayed Lady Liberty. The user further tweeted:

"The 'blue man' in the Olympics opening ceremony is Bacchus/Dionysus (Roman/Greek), the god of wine and revelry..."

Another user tweeted, writing that the act wasn't portraying Jesus or Christianity. Instead, it was related to Greek mythology.

"This isn't about Jesus or Christianity. It's an homage to the Greek mythology of dionysus. You are aware that the Olympics are from ancient Greece?" One user wrote.

"Hey dipsh*t. It isn't the Last Supper. It was a Greek Dionysia. Because the Olympics started in Greece. To represent Festivite. The Greek God Dionysus is right there." Wrote another user.

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More about the controversial "The Last Supper" act at the Olympics opening ceremony

While so many people were waiting for the opening supper of the 2024 Olympics in Paris on July 26, Thomas Jolly's directed act didn't garner the response it possibly expected. Netizens expressed more dissatisfaction towards the involvement of drag queens in the act.

In the center, one could see an ornately dressed woman with a huge silver headdress, which reportedly portrayed a halo often seen in paintings of Jesus. This created outrage amongst netizens who felt the act disrespected Christianity.

In the act, a man could be seen dipped in blue color, who reportedly depicted the Greek God. Public figures like Elon Musk and Ryan Garcia have also expressed their displease towards the Olympics opening act in Paris with the Seine River and Eiffel Tower in the background.

Several French people also expressed dislike towards the act. French politician Marion Marechal reacted to the presentation, saying,

"To all the Christians around the world watching the #Paris2024 ceremony who felt insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not France speaking but a left-wing minority willing to provoke. #notinmyname."

The Olympics are expected to continue till August 11, 2024.

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Who is Dionysus? Exploring facts about the Greek God

Dionysus is a god of wine, theater, and ecstasy. He is often known to portray the wild and carefree side of Greece. The Collector mentioned that in Greek mythology, it was believed that whenever there was a party, one could find Dionysus in the middle.

The article further stated that while the god portrayed liberation, he could "drive people to madness." He could often be seen in Greek mythological paintings, holding a glass full of wine. While several variations of this Greek God are available, one of them includes him being the son of Zeus and Semele.

Dionysus was reportedly the god of theater and wine (Image via X/@PublicChaffinch)

In another version, as described by Ancient Origins, Dionysus was a Thracian. According to this version, he was traveling the world when he reached Greece as a "foreigner." Thus, his background couldn't be traced as being Greek. However, he eventually became rooted in Greek culture.

Dionysus was the 12th and final Olympic God, according to the ancient Greeks.