Paris Olympics Opening: A Modern Take on The Last Supper?

With the Olympic flame extinguished and the cheers fading, there’s more to reflect on than just athletic victories. This year’s Paris Olympics opening ceremony sparked controversy beyond sports. Thomas Jolly’s creative choice ignited a firestorm of debate as it bore an uncanny resemblance to Leonardo da Vinci's iconic religious painting "The Last Supper", with many questioning its intent. 

Here’s what unfolded.

🔵 Friday, 26 July

The Olympics Opening Ceremony took place, shocking viewers worldwide due to its striking resemblance to The Last Supper. Just hours later, the Olympics’ X account links the performance to the Greek god Dionysus.

🔵 Saturday, 27 July

The French Catholic Church releases a statement calling the portrayal a "mockery of Christianity." Social media, however, remained divided, with some insisting the scene depicted a Dionysian feast.

🔵 Sunday, 28 July

The Olympics’ official statement acknowledged that the performance was indeed inspired by "The Last Supper."

"Thomas Jolly took inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting. There was never an intention to show disrespect toward any religious group. He is not the first artist to reference this world-famous work. From Andy Warhol to The Simpsons, many have done so before him.”

(The Washington Post)

Unsurprisingly, Christians and Catholics weren’t amused. Church leaders and conservative politicians condemned the performance, calling it a perversion of the sacred moment leading to Jesus’ crucifixion. Even Russia’s Foreign Ministry jumped in, accusing the ceremony of staging an "LGBT mockery" of a sacred moment in Christian tradition.

Then, more backpedaling followed. In an interview with French broadcaster BFMTV, Jolly denied any connection to "The Last Supper":

"(The Last Supper) is not my inspiration and that should be pretty obvious. Dionysus arrives at a table because he’s the god of celebration in Greek mythology… The idea was to depict a big pagan celebration, linked to the gods of Olympus and thus the Olympics."

Art experts were divided. Some noted clear echoes of "The Last Supper," while others defended it as a reinterpretation of classical art. 

Others pointed to another inspiration: "The Feast of the Gods" by Jan Hermansz. van Bijlert.

So, was it inspired by "The Last Supper"?

According to the performers, yes.

French drag queen Piche, who performed in the scene, admitted it was modeled after da Vinci’s painting but insisted it wasn’t meant as provocation. “It’s been reused in pop culture for decades. Why is it a problem now?” 

Another performer, Barbara Butch, who wore a silver aureole halo crown head-dress portraying a figure some interpreted to be Jesus in the sketch posted this on her Instagram. 

Butch’s instagram story that was subsequently deleted

The elephant in the room: Why single out Christians?

For Christians, "The Last Supper" is more than just a meal; it represents sacrifice, love and community. Repurposing it in this context feels deeply disrespectful. It’s not about being overly sensitive, but about recognizing when something sacred is treated carelessly.

There’s a broader pattern: Christianity often bears the brunt of “artistic freedom” in ways that other faiths simply don’t. Consider Sam Smith’s satanic-themed Grammy performance, for example. Imagine if sacred imagery from another religion had been used. The outrage would have been swift and in some cases devastating (as seen with Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons of Prophet Mohammed). Yet when it comes to Christianity, we’re expected to shrug it off in the name of inclusivity. True inclusivity, however, means respecting all beliefs equally—without undermining or mocking any.

In defense of the tableau, Jolly said, “We wanted to talk about diversity… We wanted to include everyone.” But does “everyone” really mean everyone? Or was it primarily about pushing a particular LGBTQ+ agenda, of which Jolly is an ardent supporter?

As the dust settles on this Olympic controversy, it’s clear this isn’t just about a performance or artistic choice. Let’s hope this prompts a broader discussion about mutual respect and work towards a truly inclusive society where everyone's beliefs are respected. After all, isn't mutual respect what the Olympic spirit is supposed to be about?