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Confused Twitter users managed to pick out the funniest aspects of the strange and drawn-out opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, posting tweets mocking the performance.
Hundreds of memes mock the Smurfs, the “woke” performance and the heavy rain that led crowds to wear plastic ponchos.
It’s no surprise that the Paris opening ceremony has been subjected to brutal criticism on social media, with critics calling the four-hour spectacle the “worst ever.”
Sharing a picture of the UK PM looking very stern, one X user wrote: “You know what he’s thinking. This opening ceremony is the very kind of meeting that could be done over email.”
“The first two hours of the mechanical horse were amazing,” joked one X user. Sharing a photo of the British Prime Minister looking very stern, another wrote, “You know what he’s thinking. This opening ceremony is the kind of meeting that could be done by email.” Hundreds of memes have been mocking the Smurfs and the “woke” performance. With critics calling the four-hour show the “worst ever,” it’s no surprise that the Paris opening ceremony has been the subject of cruel comments on social media. “Tony is so ‘American minds can’t comprehend this,'” said one user, posting about NBC’s commentary on the bizarre event. The Paris opening ceremony has been the subject of cruel comments on social media.
As a point of comparison, many shared footage from the 2012 awards ceremony in London, where Rowan Atkinson played a single note on the keyboard in his iconic role as Mr Bean.
Social media users were nostalgic for the “unforgettable” performance which left millions laughing out loud, pointing out that it was a “woke” performance of the highest standard, rather than a “boring” one from last night’s “woke” ceremony.
“The first two hours of the mechanical horse were the best,” joked one X user.
A knight wearing the Olympic flag rode down the Seine on a mechanical silver horse.
It all went to the Eiffel Tower where all the athletes were gathered.
In this elaborate scene, a horseman carrying a standard represents Sequana, the Gallo-Roman goddess of the Seine.
Plastic poncho-clad athletes attempted to boost morale as they traveled down the Seine in a giant convoy of 85 boats, but were quickly dashed by fierce criticism on social media: “Catherine Deneuve should light the torch with a cigarette,” one person wrote, while by comparison many shared footage from London’s 2012 ceremony, in which Rowan Atkinson played a single note on a keyboard as the iconic Mr Bean character.
The Olympic flag was flying upside down at the Trocadero, which alone had social media users bursting into laughter.
“Those who managed to stay awake [during the Opening Ceremony] “Witnessing the Olympic flag being flown upside down,” journalist Dan Wetzel tweeted on X.
“If things are bad at work, something much worse could happen. Maybe we’ll be the flag team that flies the Olympic flag upside down at the opening ceremony,” posted another Olympic fan.
“Tony is literally saying, ‘The American mind cannot comprehend this,'” one person wrote, posting about NBC’s commentary on the bizarre incident.
One user posted a scene from the London 2012 Games with the caption: “12 years and 10 minutes later this opening ceremony clearly looks nothing like London.”
While many in the stands chose to wear ponchos, Sir Keir adamantly refused to wear such clothing and was photographed surrounded by a pile of plastic covers. “I can’t believe the French aren’t paying tribute to their best chef at the opening ceremony,” one X user wrote, mocking the famous cartoon character’s absence from Ratatouille. Others slammed the performance as “millennial.” One user posted a scene from the 2012 London Games with the caption, “12 years and 10 minutes later and this opening ceremony is clearly nowhere near London.” Even Jedward’s rendition of an Irish song added to the mockery and memes. The performers were forced to perform in terrible weather, with one user writing, “Save the piano.”
The 6,800 athletes wore plastic ponchos and tried to boost morale as they traveled down the Seine in a huge convoy of 85 boats.
However, this was quickly demolished by fierce social media memes, including an image of former Chancellor Rishi Sunak reading “Stop the boats” from a podium.
One user on X joked about the famous cartoon character not appearing in Ratatouille, posting: “I can’t believe the French aren’t paying tribute to their country’s greatest chef at the opening ceremony. Nothing about Remy. They wiped him from history.”
One person shared a picture of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in the stands and wrote: “Proud to be British that our PM brought his own kagoule to the Olympics opening ceremony so we don’t have to wear a rubbish poncho. We know how to handle the rain.”
While many in the stands opted to wear ponchos, Sir Keir was filmed amid a sea of plastic coverings, steadfastly refusing to wear such clothing.
But as the rain got stronger, he decided to pull up the hood of his raincoat instead.