“‘Full House’ Star Slams Olympics Opening Ceremony for ‘Mocking’ Christian Faith”
The opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics in Paris sparked outrage, as several Christian leaders and far-right voices erupted onto their social media handles, expressing their anger over what was perceived to be a farce against their faith.
That Friday, July 26 ceremony included one act that several saw as a recreation of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” That number, with drag artists seated at a long table, drew condemnation from several Christian groups as “blasphemous.” Making matters worse was another act including the singer Phillippe Katerine in costume as Dionysus, the ancient Greek god of wine and debauchery.
Among those was Candace Cameron Bure, whom viewers know and love from her titular role in the sitcom “Full House” and its sequel series as D.J. Tanner. The actress, whose family is very Olympic-minded, posted her opinion in an Instagram video Sunday, July 28.
“Witnessing the opening ceremonies desecrate and satirize the Christian faith through their rendition of the Last Supper was appalling, especially considering the significance of the upcoming two-week event,” Bure expressed. She described feeling a combination of outrage and sorrow in response to the performance, and urged her supporters to continue spreading their religious beliefs.
Former US President Donald Trump weighed in, calling the opening ceremony “a disgrace” and that a portrayal such as that would not happen on his watch, if he was president during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Under backlash, Opening Ceremony’s director, Thomas Jolly, later explained that it was originally inspired by the Feast of Dionysus and not The Last Supper. He had claimed that what had been intended to put across was a message of love and inclusion—not an attempt at offending or dividing.
A representative for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Anne Descamps, addressed the controversy: “We want to make it absolutely clear that we had no intention of offending any faith community. We deeply regret if our actions have caused any distress.”
Meanwhile, Barbara Butch—the DJ at the center of the controversial performance—has announced that she will file a lawsuit against those who have sent her abusive messages following the ceremony. She is proud to be one and adds to it her commitment to standing up against hatred and discrimination.
This opening ceremony controversy broadens perspectives into the Olympic Games on issues of artistic expression, cultural representation, and religious sensitivities in front of large-scale international events.
