Olympics Spokesperson Admits Drag Show Version of "The Last Supper" Inspired by Da Vinci Mural

A Paris 2024 Olympics spokesperson admitted the controversial drag show version of “The Last Supper” seen in the Olympic opening ceremony was indeed inspired by the iconic da Vinci mural — despite attempting to vehemently deny it following fierce backlash.

“Thomas Jolly took inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting to create the setting,” an Olympics spokesperson admitted to The New York Post in a statement on Saturday, referring to the opening ceremony creative director. “He is 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,” the statement continued.

A crew of drag queens and dancers performed an apparent “parody of the Last Supper” at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, drawing intense criticism across social media. “This is crazy. Opening your event by replacing Jesus and the disciples at the Last Supper with men in drag,” Clint Russel, the host of the Liberty Lockdown podcast, fumed on X. “There are 2.4 billion Christians on earth and apparently the Olympics wanted to declare loudly to all of them, right out of the gate NOT WELCOME,” said Russel.

During the show, a group of 18 performers — including three familiar Drag Race France queens — struck poses behind what looked like a long table with the Seine River and Eiffel Tower poignantly placed in the background. At the center was an ornately dressed woman with a large silver headdress that resembled a halo as depicted in paintings of Jesus. She smiled and made a heart shape with her hands as her peers stared down the camera before breaking out in a choreographed routine.

Models then stormed the stage for the impromptu fashion show that saw the supposed Last Supper-mockers swaying along the sidelines. The showcase turned into a dance floor at the end, with Drag Race France host Nicky Doll strutting down the stage. Contestants Paloma and Piche were also part of the performance.

To add to the “absurdity,” a massive serving tray was planted on the stage — revealing a scantily dressed man, painted head to toe in sparkling blue, curled up inside.

The Olympics said the performance was an “interpretation of the Greek God [of wine and festivity] Dionysus” to make “us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings.” But social media users felt that the group was making fun of Christianity and even French politicians denounced the show

Vatican Responds

The Vatican broke its silence Saturday on the controversial drag performance that mocked Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic “Last Supper” painting during the 2024 Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony last week. The segment of the July 26 ceremony controversially replaced the biblical scene of Jesus Christ and his apostles sharing a final meal before his crucifixion with drag queens, a transgender model and singer dressed as Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and pleasure.

The Vatican said that the performance, which sparked global outrage, showed a lack of “respect for others.”

“The Holy See was saddened by certain scenes at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games and cannot but join the voices raised in recent days to deplore the offense done to many Christians and believers of other religions,” it said in a press release.

Sources: The New York Post, X formally known as Twitter