American Telecommunications Company Pulls Ads from Paris Olympics Over ‘Last Supper’ Drag Show Outrage

The Paris Olympics opening ceremony has sparked controversy and drawn criticism from an American telecommunications company, C Spire, which has decided to pull its advertising from the event. The company expressed shock and disapproval over a tableau that seemed to evoke Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’, featuring drag queens and other performers in a configuration reminiscent of Jesus Christ and his apostles.

In response to the backlash, Mississippi governor Tate Reeves commended C Spire for taking a stand against what he perceived as mockery of Christianity. The company’s decision to withdraw its advertising highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the portrayal of religious themes in public events.

The opening ceremony itself was a spectacle of inclusivity, with drag queens taking center stage alongside global stars like Celine Dion and Lady Gaga. The event showcased the vibrant and influential role of the French LGBTQ+ community, but also attracted mixed reactions due to the controversial tableau.

While some, like recent Drag Race France winner Le Filip, praised the ceremony for its scale and representation, others, including far-right politician Marion Maréchal and Hungary’s ambassador to the Vatican, Eduard Habsburg, criticized the performance for its perceived disrespect towards Christian beliefs.

Artistic director Thomas Jolly later clarified that the references to ‘The Last Supper’ were not intentional, shifting the focus away from the controversial segment. The incident at the Paris Olympics serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between artistic expression and religious sensitivities in public events.