What is a kitsch tableau? Paris Olympics organizers issue apology over Last Supper parody backlash

Paris Olympics organizers accumulated criticism over one of the acts represented during Friday’s opening ceremony. Several conservative Christians claimed the act in question derided Leonardo Da Vinci’s famed painting The Last Supper.

Described as a “kitsch tableau” by some news outlets, the showcase incorporated participation from drag queens. Performers posed in a dramatic arrangement that, to some people, appeared to imitate Vinci's painting, depicting Jesus Christ’s last meal with his apostles before his crucifixion.

The particular style of delineation, referred to as a tableau, is a sequence where “artists meticulously pose, costume, and often use theatrical lighting to recreate a painting or a scene from art history or literature,” according to Avant Arte.

The alleged tableau of The Last Supper at the Paris Olympics was described as "kitsch," or a vulgar display of derision that appeals to individuals with poor intellect and taste. The event's organizers clarified that the performance had no association with Da Vinci's painting. They said that it was an attempt to portray a festival of the Greek God Dionysus, charged with wine and drunkenness.

However, backlash against the organizers continued despite the explanation, and one of the spokespeople for the event apologized to viewers. During a press conference held on July 28, 2024, Ann Descamps said that there was "never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group."

"On the contrary, I think that Thomas Jolly (artistic director) really tried to, really intend to celebrate community tolerance, that was his word yesterday. If people have taken any offense, we are, of course, really sorry," Descamps added.

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Paris Olympics' art director Thomas Jelly elucidates the reason behind the representation

Critiquing the perceived ridicule of The Last Supper at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, many Christian conservatives and right-wing politicians voiced their thoughts.

Marion Maréchal, a French far-right politician and European Parliament member, addressed Christians who may have watched the opening ceremony. Marion shared a mutual feeling of humiliation over the "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," the politician wrote on X.

Some netizens who condemned the depiction said the performance was not family-friendly. Many claimed that the Olympic Games will ave the "lowest viewership ever" due to the tableau.

Netizens critiqued the performance at the Paris Olympics Ceremony. (Image via X/@Olympics)

Others disagreed with the Christian interpretation of the enactment. They defended the event organizers, claiming the scene never represented The Last Supper but a celebration of Dionysus.

One person, who claimed to be a Christian pastor, happened to have accepted the purported Christian interpretation of the performance. However, he mentioned he did not take offense in a different rendition of The Last Supper, adding that Christians should shift their concerns to more important things.

Some netizens defended the concept. (Image via X/@Olympics, @benekcj)

The Paris Olympics' opening ceremony's art director, Thomas Jelly, issued his explanation on July 28, 2024. He said the purpose of the enactment was not to subvert an established concept or "mock" it, adding that he wanted to convey a message of love, inclusion, kindness, generosity, and solidarity.

"In France, we are allowed to love who we want, how we want. In France, we can believe, or not believe. In France, we have a lot of rights, and I wanted to convey those values throughout the ceremony," the art director added.

Thomas Jelly also clarified that he did not draw inspiration from Da Vinci’s The Last Supper for the opening ceremony.

According to Reuters, French drag queen Paloma, who was one of the performers in the tableau, addressed the event organizers’ apology.

"An apology means recognising a mistake, recognising that you deliberately did something to harm, which was not the case," Paloma said.

Paloma claimed viewers were not bothered by the apparent recreation of The Last Supper, but rather had an issue with queer people enacting the showcase.