What does La Cene Sur La Scene Sur La Seine mean? Netizens refute Dutch historian's claim that Paris Olympics did not mock 'The Last Supper'

Social media is continuing to debate the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics opening ceremony performance and whether or not it was a parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting The Last Supper.

For instance, Dutch art and architectural historian Walther Schoonenberg took to X on July 28 and wrote in Dutch, which, when translated to English, reads:

“At #OpeningCeremony of #Paris2024, a tableau vivant (a living painting) of 'The Feast of the Gods' by Jan van Bijlert from 1635 (kept in the museum in Dijon) was shown. Apollo, the Sun God, is recognizable by the halo, and Bacchus by the grapes on his head.”

Schoonenberg, who is a curator and Secretary of the Association of Friends at the Amsterdam City Center, shared side-by-side images of the controversial Paris Olympics performance and Bijlert’s The Feast of the Gods painting, seemingly to show their similarities under his post.

Dutch art historian Walther Schoonenberg's post on the Olympics controversy. (Image via X/WSchoonenberg)

However, the internet doesn’t seem convinced and is refuting this viral claim. Many claimed that the performance was titled ‘La Cene Sur La Scene Sur La Seine’ in French, which when translated to English means ‘The Last Supper on the stage on the [River] Seine.’

Notably, while the Olympics organizers did not officially use the title, French news outlets, including Le Soir, used it in their publications.

Regardless, several X users continued to claim that the performance was named ‘La Cene Sur La Scene Sur La Seine’ and was thus a mockery of Vinci’s The Last Supper, adding that those who were claiming otherwise were trying to “gaslight.”

“This sort of educated bullsh*t requires you to ignore the simple fact that the Olympic presentation was literally called ‘La Cène Sur Un Scène Sur La Seine,’ i.e. ‘The Last Supper on a Stage on the Seine.’ They think you're easily gaslighted. They have contempt for you, prole,” a person wrote.

“Lying about the Olympic Last Supper, a sign of our times. Scène de la Cène à Paris sur la Seine… I’m really fed up with being gaslit. Can I get a vibe check? Our whole culture, in the West at least, is rotten through with lying-a*s-norm,” one person wrote.

“The performance was literally called: ‘La Cène Sur Un Scène Sur La Seine,’ i.e. ‘The Last Supper on a Stage on the Seine.’ An astonishing attempt at gaslighting followed,” another person wrote.

Some pointed out that seeking the opinion of experts wasn’t required, and the comparison of the performance with The Last Supper was evident. Others claimed that the Olympics organizers “scrubbed” off the internet to dismiss the viral speculation.

“You don’t need an art history degree to attempt a debugging, Just ask the organizers, and refer to the presentation’s description. Both align. The Olympic presentation was called ‘La Cène Sur Un Scène Sur La Seine,’ literally, ‘The Last Supper on a Stage on the Seine,’” a netizen wrote.

“The Olympic presentation was entitled ‘La Cène Sur Un Scène Sur La Seine,’ by the Olympic organizers. That means ‘The Last Supper on a Stage on the Seine.’ One would think there'd be a few more mentions on Goggle of it. But it has been completely scrubbed except on 4 X accounts,” one netizen wrote.

Here are some general criticisms from social media users regarding the denial of the alleged The Last Supper parody.

“Your claim that there was no blasphemous intent is a bald-faced lie. The Olympic presentation was entitled "La Cène Sur Un Scène Sur La Seine," by the Olympic organizers. That means "The Last Supper on a Stage on the Seine." You must think we’re all as stupid as you are,” an individual wrote.

“The Olympic Presentation scene at the Paris 2024 that has caused controversy was called, ‘La Cène Sur Un Scène Sur La Seine.’ The English translation is, ‘The Last Supper On A Stage On The Seine.’ Therefore, it was based on The Last Supper and deserves the condemnation it got,” another individual wrote.

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Exploring the opposing statements of people involved in the alleged The Last Supper parody at Paris Olympics

Two days after the Olympics opening ceremony in Paris on July 26, Thomas Jolly, the theater director who choreographed the performance rumored to be a mockery of The Last Supper, dismissed the claim.

During an interview with local TV station BFM, he mentioned that Vinci’s iconic artwork was not an “inspiration,” but rather the “idea was to have a pagan celebration linked to the Gods of Olympus and thus the Olympics.”

“You will never find in me a desire to mock and denigrate anyone. I wanted a ceremony that brings people together, that reconciles, but also a ceremony that affirms our… values of liberty, equality, and fraternity," Jolly added.

Before that, during the daily briefing of the International Olympic Committee on Saturday, Jolly also clarified that the performance was not meant to “be subversive or shock people or mock people.”

He also mentioned that the scene was an “interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus” that “makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings,” which was later doubled down on by the X account of the Olympics.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the performance, French DJ, producer, and LGBTQ advocate Barbara Butch, who was at the center of it, re-shared multidisciplinary artist Flavio Juan Nunez's collage of the former's act alongside the original The Last Supper painting.

“Oh Yes! Oh Yes! The New Gay Testament!," Butch reportedly wrote on her Instagram Story.

However, upon receiving backlash, she quickly took down her post and replaced it with an image of her portrayal and writing in the description:

“Will forever be proud and support this moment of art reference. ‘The Feast of Gods’ by Jan Harmensz van Bijlert. I received a lot of messages about my faith… but I have questions about yours.”

Likewise, 2024 Paris Olympics producers told The Wrap exclusively on Sunday that “For the ‘Festivities’ segment, Thomas Jolly took inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting to create the setting.”

They further added how Jolly was “not the first artist to make a reference to what is a world-famous work of art. From Andy Warhol to The Simpsons, many have done it before him.”

Meanwhile, in contrast, Anne Descamps, the spokesperson of the organizers, issued an apology the same day, saying, “There was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. On the contrary, I think (with) Thomas Jolly, we really did try to celebrate community tolerance.” She also apologized if the act offended anyone.