‘Blatant mockery’: Utah leaders criticize ‘Last Supper’ parody at Paris Olympics opening ceremony

Ashley Imlay, KSL.com

SALT LAKE CITY — The Paris Olympics opening ceremonial down nan Seine, called “rule-breaking,” “whack,” and “woke” by various reports, drew disapproval and daze from Utah leaders.

One facet of nan ceremonial astatine rumor was a group of group connected a footbridge crossed nan Seine that appeared to parody nan iconic Christian painting, da Vinci’s “Last Supper.” In nan halfway was a female wearing a ample headdress and surrounded by resistance artists and dancers, according to nan Associated Press. Many of nan group successful nan display, arsenic good arsenic others passim nan show, were scantily clad.

“It was a 4-hour agelong opening pinch tons of rainfall and apparently we missed a fewer things. I’m seeing video of a blatant insult of a ineffable arena that my religion cherishes (the Last Supper of Christ). I can’t hold for nan opening ceremonies successful 2034 (like 2002) to showcase Utah values and our committedness to building family and community,” Gov. Spencer Cox, who is successful Paris for nan Olympics, posted connected X.

It was a 4-hour agelong opening pinch tons of rainfall and apparently we missed a fewer things. I’m seeing video of a blatant insult of a ineffable arena that my religion cherishes (the Last Supper of Christ). I can’t hold for nan opening ceremonies successful 2034 (like 2002) to showcase Utah values… https://t.co/fEw9DbB5Ak

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) July 27, 2024

On Wednesday, Utah was named big of nan 2034 Games. It marks conscionable nan 5th clip nan United States has hosted nan Winter Olympics, and nan early arena will beryllium nan first connected U.S. ungraded since Salt Lake City hosted it successful 2002. The IOC besides voted early Wednesday to formally grant nan 2030 Winter Olympics to France.

According to nan AP, nan female successful nan halfway of nan show connected nan footbridge was DJ and shaper Barbara Butch, “an LGBTQ+ icon who calls herself a ‘love activist.'” The opening ceremony’s creator head Thomas Jolly said he didn’t intend to parody nan “Last Supper” but to observe “diversity,” “feasting and French gastronomy,” nan outlet report. Clips of nan scene, however, do not show nutrient aliases plates successful beforehand of nan group.

Utah Sen. Mike Lee posted a side-by-side comparison of nan grouping connected nan Seine and nan “Last Supper” coating connected X and asked: “Why?”

Why? pic.twitter.com/0t2YU27liN

— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) July 26, 2024

“If this is emblematic of nan countries nan U.S. must take sides nether Article 5 of nan North Atlantic Treaty, really does this make you consciousness astir America’s early pinch NATO,” he said, adding successful different remark connected nan thread that “Allies who mock what’s ineffable to america aren’t allies.”

He further called nan show “deplorable.”

Political leaders weren’t nan only ones to return discourtesy astatine nan ceremonies.

The French Catholic Church’s convention called it “scenes of derision and insult of Christianity,” adding “our thoughts are pinch each nan Christians from each continents who were wounded by nan outrage and provocation of definite scenes,” nan AP reported.

Some person said nan segment was alternatively meant to picture nan Feast of Dionysus, pinch nan charismatic Olympic Games page posting photos of nan segment successful mobility and stating: “The mentation of nan Greek God Dionysus makes america alert of nan absurdity of unit betwixt quality beings.”

The photos show a personification painted bluish connected a tray surrounded by flowers, sitting successful beforehand of nan group astatine nan table.

Utah Senate President Stuart Adams posted connected X, “The Olympics has agelong been a awesome of unity and nan ceremony of athletes. However, nan caller opening ceremonial turned into a insult of belief beliefs, fostering section erstwhile solidarity is astir needed.

“The disrespect shown to nan Last Supper is unacceptable and undermines nan tone of nan Games, damaging nan event’s integrity. The IOC members responsible for approving this should rumor a nationalist apology,” he said.

Like Cox, Adams emphasized that Utah is “committed to showcasing Utah’s singular people, stunning earthy beauty and rich | taste heritage,” erstwhile it hosts nan Games successful 2034.

“We will grant athletes’ achievements and create a lasting effect that resonates pinch and inspires audiences for generations to come,” he said.|

The Olympics has agelong been a awesome of unity and nan ceremony of athletes. However, nan caller opening ceremonial turned into a insult of belief beliefs, fostering section erstwhile solidarity is astir needed. The disrespect shown to nan Last Supper is unacceptable and undermines…

— President J. Stuart Adams (@JStuartAdams) July 27, 2024

Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz besides expressed disappointment successful nan ceremonial connected Friday but focused connected nan early Games successful Utah.

“I’m grateful that Utah will find what our ceremonies will look like. They will beryllium a stark opposition from what we saw yesterday. For nan 2034 Olympics, we look guardant to our opening and closing ceremonies showing nan champion of Utah and our values, including our breathtaking scenery, family values, heritage, and nan inspiration of athletics that each Utahns will beryllium proud of,” Schultz said connected X.

I couldn’t beryllium much disappointed successful nan Paris opening ceremonies for evident reasons. I’m grateful that Utah will find what our ceremonies will look like. They will beryllium a stark opposition from what we saw yesterday. For nan 2034 Olympics, we look guardant to our opening and…

— Mike Schultz (@mschultz_12) July 27, 2024

Utah Sen. Mitt Romney highlighted a portion of nan ceremonies that received much affirmative reviews.

“The @Paris2024 Opening Ceremony showcased nan world’s astir beautiful city. Imaginative, inventive and memorable. The capacity by Celine Dion touched hearts. She epitomized nan Olympic tone pinch her determination, courageousness and incomparable talent,” he posted connected X.

The @Paris2024 Opening Ceremony showcased nan world’s astir beautiful city. Imaginative, inventive and memorable. The capacity by Celine Dion touched hearts. She epitomized nan Olympic tone pinch her determination, courageousness and incomparable talent. pic.twitter.com/5oRBPc9kgk

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) July 26, 2024

Contributing: Collin Leonard