The Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony captivated audiences worldwide with its blend of artistry and mythology. However, a particular scene featuring drag performers sparked controversy, as some viewers drew parallels to Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting of the Last Supper. Thomas Jolly, the artistic director, has since clarified the true inspiration behind the performance, emphasizing its roots in Greek mythology.

Jolly explained that the scene was a homage to Dionysus, the Greek god of celebration and ecstasy, rather than a religious allusion.

“There is Dionysus who arrives on this table. He is there because he is the god of celebration in Greek mythology,” Jolly said, according to NBC. “The idea was to have a pagan celebration connected to the gods of Olympus. You will never find in me a desire to mock and denigrate anyone.”

The performance featured a central figure painted blue, symbolizing Dionysus, seated at a table laden with fruit. Surrounding this figure were dancers and performers striking dynamic poses, embodying the spirit of celebration. The scene aimed to highlight the absurdity of violence and the importance of community harmony, a message underscored by the Olympics’ official social media accounts.

The halo on the center performer makes the claims that the scene is about Dionysus that much more suspect.

Criticism arose from various quarters, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who interpreted the scene as a “mockery of the Last Supper.” In response, Anne Descamps, spokesperson for the Paris Olympics, issued an apology for any offense caused, reiterating that the intention was to foster inclusivity and tolerance.

Among those who slammed the distasteful snippet is UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Despite the fact he’s Muslim, Makhachev found the clip abhorent.

“Paris Games is a shame and dark stain on Olympic movement. We should bring it back to Russia again, to fix everything.”

In a later interview, Makhachev elaborated:

“Well, to be honest, I watched fragments of the opening of the Olympics. It was disgusting.”

“This is disrespectful to all religions in general and to all human values. To be honest, I even planned to go to the Olympics. After that, I don’t even want to go there.”

The host then inquired about Makhachev’s tweet advocating for the return of the Olympics to Russia. Makhachev responded, “Well, first of all, Russia understands how to uphold human values. It respects athletes and the sport. I don’t think it has anything to do with the sport.”