The official highlights video from the controversial Paris Olympics opening ceremony has been removed from the Olympics’ YouTube page following widespread backlash.
Highlight videos previously uploaded by the International Olympic Committee now display the text “This video is not available” above a black screen.
It is unclear why the video was removed or by whom. The International Olympic Committee was not immediately available for comment.
Why did the Olympics remove the video from yesterday’s Opening Ceremony? pic.twitter.com/hnU4GvhbY5
— Harrison Faulkner (@Harry__Faulkner) July 27, 2024
One performance was a parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper,” which depicts Jesus Christ and his apostles on the night before his crucifixion, with the disciples played by drag queens and Jesus played by Fat Acceptance and LGBTQ activist DJ Barbara Bucci.
The International Olympic Committee also issued a DMCA copyright infringement notice to users of X who posted videos of the opening ceremony. Several videos were removed from the platform on Saturday, but were reinstated later the same day.
What on earth happens at the Olympic opening ceremony? pic.twitter.com/rWIjH8ZVwP
— Harrison Faulkner (@Harry__Faulkner) July 26, 2024
After an anti-Christian taunt about the Last Supper, a bearded transgender dancer appeared onstage, accompanied by a man painted head to toe blue as a dish, and began singing in French, a reference to the Greek god Dionysus, according to an official Olympique X statement.
Our interpretation of the Greek god Dionysus helps us realize the absurdity of human violence. #Paris2024 #Opening ceremony pic.twitter.com/FBlQNNUmvV
— Olympics (@Olympics) July 26, 2024
At the time, Christians around the world protested the painting, which showed a metal horse floating in the Seine, because it bore a striking resemblance to the pale horse of the Book of Revelation.
Wondering what happens at the Olympic opening ceremony?
A rider on a pale horse looks like something straight out of the apocalypse
“And I looked, and behold a pale horse; and he that sat on him was called Death, and Hell followed him: and power was given to him… pic.twitter.com/r4sIcAIwAG
— Vision4theBlind (@Vision4theBlind) July 26, 2024
Statues of a golden bull and a golden deer, created for the 1937 World’s Fair, appeared on stage during the opening ceremony. Many Christians on social media felt the statues evoked the symbol of the golden calf, which represents idolatry and rejection of faith.
For those of you worried about the “Golden Calf” at the Olympic Opening Ceremony, this is actually a statue created for the 1937 World’s Fair. It is called “Torro and Dime” along with a deer. The Olympic stage is a temporary one located in the fountain at the Trocadero Gardens. pic.twitter.com/Lzy2wP63yb
— Richie Greenberg (@greenbergnation) July 27, 2024
The performance was widely criticized, with the French Bishops’ Conference also finding it deplorable.
“Unfortunately, the ceremony contained scenes of mockery and ridicule for Christianity, which we deeply regret,” the Catholic Church said in a statement.
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson has complained to X about the anti-Christian exhibits.
“Last night’s mockery of ‘The Last Supper’ was shocking and offensive to Christians around the world who watched the Olympic opening ceremony,” he wrote. “The battle against our faith and traditional values knows no bounds today, but we know that truth and virtue will always triumph.”
Last night’s mockery of “The Last Supper” was shocking and insulting to Christians around the world who watched the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.
The war against our faith and traditional values knows no bounds today. But we know that truth and virtue endure forever… pic.twitter.com/s88c9ymG9j
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) July 27, 2024
French MEP Marion Maréchal also condemned it, saying: “To all Christians around the world who watched the Paris 2024 ceremony and felt insulted by the drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not France that is speaking, but a left-wing minority that responds to any provocation.”
Fellow Christians around the world, #Paris2024 If you attend the ceremony and feel insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not France that is speaking, but a left-wing minority ready to respond to any provocation. #NotMyName
À tous les chrétiens du monde… pic.twitter.com/GusP2TR63u
— Marion Marechal (@MarionMarechal) July 26, 2024
The opening ceremony’s artistic director, Thomas Joly, told French news agency Le Monde that the theme of the event was “republican ideals, inclusion, compassion, generosity and solidarity.”
At a press conference on Saturday, Olympic Games secretary-general Christophe Dubi defended the controversial opening ceremony, praising the “courage, determination, vision and creativity” and saying it was “an unconventional show.”
“The determination, vision and creativity required for an opening ceremony like this… it was a ceremony that defy convention.”
– Christophe Dubi, Secretary General of the Olympic Games, congratulations from the IOC Paris 2024 To #Opening ceremony of #Olympic events pic.twitter.com/v12SDm56ph
— IOC Media (@iocmedia) July 27, 2024
Harrison Faulkner is the host of Ratio’d and co-host of Fake News Friday. He’s also a journalist and producer for Toronto-based True North. Twitter: @Harry__Faulkner
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