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Paris Olympics: US tech company pulls its ads over ‘Last Supper’ mocking in opening ceremony

Paris Olympics: US tech company pulls its ads over ‘Last Supper’ mocking in opening ceremony

Drag performance at Olympics 2024

A US tech company haspulled its advertisements from Paris Olympics 2024 after the opening ceremony mocked the Last Supper. Drag queens and dancers performed a parody of the Leonardo da Vinci's mural painting, which brought flak from all quarters.

Mississippi-based telecommunications and technology company, C Spire, said it was cutting ties after being shocked by the events on the opening night.

“We were shocked by the mockery of the Last Supper during the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics. C Spire will be pulling our advertising from the Olympics,” the company posted on X, formerly Twitter.

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Company president and CEO Suzy Hays said:“C Spire is supportive of our athletes who have worked so hard to be a part of the Olympics. However, we will not be a part of the offensive and unacceptable mockery of the Last Supper, which is why we’re pulling our advertising from the Olympics.”

It remains unclear what form of advertisements were pulled or how much C Spire spent to be part of the Olympics.

Watch |Paris Olympics: First-of-its-kind ceremony on river Seine

Apology issued

Meanwhile, the Olympics on Sunday (Jul 28) released a statement apologising to Catholics and other Christian groups who were angered by the events of the opening ceremony.

"Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. (The opening ceremony) tried to celebrate community tolerance," Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps told a press conference.

"We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offence we are really sorry."

The particular segment of the opening ceremony was aimed to be a big moment for queer and drag representation. However, when the performersgathered at a table set against the backdrop of the Seine River and posedlike Jesus and his Twelve Apostles in the painting - it came across as distasteful and disingenuous.

Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony, defended the production as a symbol of “inclusion".

“Our subject was not to be subversive. We never wanted to be subversive. We wanted to talk about diversity. Diversity means being together,” Jolly said.

The netizens, however, did not agree and censured the production for not being anywhere related to the Olympics.

(With inputs from agencies)