"No one ever tell me this group is "oppressed" - Riley Gaines reacts to drag queens headlining enactment of The Last Supper at Paris Olympics

Retired American swimmer-turned-political activist Riley Gaines shared her take on transgender artists headlining the drag-queen-themed parody of Leonardo da Vinci's popular mural painting "The Last Supper" at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. The 33rd edition of the modern Summer Games, also known as the Paris Olympics, is currently underway in the French capital,

The Olympics Opening Ceremony was a resplendent event held along the River Seine on Friday, July 26. Popular pop culture figures like Lady Gaga—who sang 'Mon truc en plumes' by Zizi Jeanmaire—and Celine Dion—who concluded the festivities with her comeback, singing Édith Piaf's Hymne A L'Amour—welcomed athletes and visitors to the Paris Olympics.

However, the opening ceremony drew criticism from fans and sports enthusiasts for several reasons, one of which was an enactment of Leonardo da Vinci's famous creation The Last Supper, in which several drag queens were seen posing behind a table. The act was condemned by some as a mockery of Da Vinci and his painting.

Gaines joined in the criticism with her tweet, opining that the performing artists' inclusion in the Ceremony was a contradiction of the idea that they are an "oppressed" and "marginalized" group. Harrison Faulkner, the host of Ratio'd, shared a video on his X handle (formerly Twitter) and wrote:

"Wtf is going on at the Olympics opening ceremony?"

Reposting his video, Gaines commented:

"Men in wigs front & center at the Olympic Games. No one ever tell me this group is "oppressed" or "marginalized" again."

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Riley Gaines expresses disappointment at LeBron James being named US flagbearer at 2024 Olympics

Riley Gaines at the 2024 Folds Of Honor Tennessee Rock N' Jock Celebrity Softball Game [Getty]

Riley Gaines shared her unhappiness at basketball legend LeBron James being given the honor of being the flagbearer for the USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She expressed her dismay at the decision, recalling when he and his teammates kneeled during the USA's national anthem to extend their support to the "Black Lives Matter" movement, from 2020.

She took to her X handle on Wednesday and shared a picture of James and his teammates kneeling. Gaines wrote:

"THIS is who was chosen as the U.S. flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Anyone who has ever knelt for the national anthem should be disqualified from this honor."

Gaines is a well-known figure in the sports world who is known for engaging in sports debates on her X handle.