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The 2024 Olympics opening ceremony on July 27, 2024, featured a parody of Last Supper by drag queens, which received backlash from prominent personalities, including Elon Musk.
Elon Musk took to X to condemn the parody of the Last Supper at the Olympics opening ceremony, stating:
"This was extremely disrespectful to Christians"
The parody, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's famous Renaissance painting showcasing Christ and his apostles, sparked international outrage.
The performance was carried out by drag queens including Nicky Doll from RuPaul's Drag Race season 12, Paloma, the winner of Drag Race France season 1, and Piche from Drag Race France season 3. Many found parts of the Last Supper performance objectionable.
According to the New York Post, the Olympics organizers defended the performance, explaining that it was an interpretation of Dionysus, the Greek God of wine and festivity. They stated that the goal was to make everyone "aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings."
"Men in wigs front & center at the Olympic Games" — American swimmer Riley Gaines criticizes parody of the Last Supper by drag queens
The parody of the Last Supper performed by drag queens at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony featured eighteen performers striking poses behind a long table, with the Eiffel Tower and Seine River in the background.
The performance featured an elaborately dressed drag queen wearing a huge silver headdress, which people speculate resembled a halo from the paintings of Jesus Christ. The drag queen at the center made a heart shape with her hands, and then everyone broke into a choreographed dance routine.
Apart from Elon Musk, Riley Gaines, a 12-time All-American swimmer and host of the OutKick's Gaines for Girls podcast, also criticized the parody. In her tweet, Riley Gaines stated:
"Men in wigs front & center at the Olympic Games. No one ever tell me this group is "oppressed" or "marginalized" again"
Riley Gaines is known for her outspoken views against male Lia Thomas (formerly Will Thomas), with whom she was forced to share a locker room and compete during the 2022 NCAA Women's DI Swimming Championship.
Another segment of the parody of Last Supper that drew criticism involved a man painted blue from head to toe who appeared at the table wearing fruits and flowers as a part of his costume, meant to depict the food served at the final supper of Jesus Christ.
NFL football player Harrison Butker, who follows the Catholic faith, also took to X to share scripture to put his views forth against the parody of Last Supper by drag queens. He tweeted:
"Be not deceived, God is not mocked. For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption. But he that soweth in the spirit, of the spirit shall reap life everlasting.’ Galatians 6:7-8."
Apart from the performance parodying the Last Supper by drag queens, Lady Gaga's performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony also faced criticism. Gaga performed the Mon truc en Plumes by Zizi Jeanmaire, which led to online criticism for not featuring a French singer for this performance.
However, Lady Gaga took to Instagram to acknowledge that she's not a French artist but has always felt a special connection to French people and music and that she rehearsed a lot for her performance.
