The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics has ignited a firestorm of controversy and backlash, with viewers voicing their disapproval of various aspects of the elaborate production.
One of the main points of contention was the inclusion of a scene depicting the Last Supper, featuring a diverse cast of performers, some in drag and devilish outfits, and a man with his testicle hanging out of his shorts.
In the scene just prior to the ball drop, this same man can be seen standing behind a female child and looking at her in a sensual manner, before signaling the slicing of his own throat.
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This sparked accusations of religious insensitivity, pedophilia, and cultural appropriation, with many questioning the relevance of such a scene in an Olympic opening ceremony.
Additionally, technical difficulties marred the event, with reports of poor audio quality and visual glitches detracting from the overall experience for those watching at home.
Many viewers took to social media to express their disappointment, calling the ceremony “disrespectful,” “chaotic,” and “the worst ever.”
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While some praised the ceremony’s artistic vision and celebration of French culture, the negative feedback has overshadowed the event’s intended message of unity and athleticism. French President Emmanuel Macron, who attended the ceremony, faced criticism for praising the organizers despite the widespread backlash.
Editor’s note: The Tampa Free Press received multiple clips of the opening ceremony from readers and posted them on X. The Olympics quickly flagged our account for copyright violations. In response, the Tampa Free Press wrote:
Our account was frozen by the Olympics for Copyright Violations after we reposted the ‘Last Supper’ video from their opening ceremonies. We assumed they were proud of angering 2.4 billion Christians worldwide. We thought wrong.
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