Former Saturday Night Live host Rob Schneider is boycotting the Paris Olympics over the controversial opening ceremony, which he sees as a satanic display that “shows no respect for Christianity.”
“I hate to wish ALL THE WORLD’S TOP ATHLETES the very best, but I cannot watch the Olympics where Christianity is disrespected and Satan is openly worshipped,” the 60-year-old wrote on X.
Paris Olympic organisers have apologised to anyone offended by a scene reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” during the glamorous opening ceremony, but defended the concept behind it on Sunday.
Da Vinci’s painting depicts the moment Jesus Christ declared that an apostle would betray him. The scene at Friday’s ceremony featured DJ and producer Barbara Butch — an LGBTQ+ icon — flanked by drag performers and dancers. A backup dancer appeared to have exposed his genitals during the ceremony.
‘Men with their genitals hanging out in front of children?!’ Schneider wrote in another post. ‘Drag Queens?! I wasn’t sure if I was watching the @Olympics or a school board meeting…’
Saturday Night Live alumnus Rob Schneider, 60, is boycotting the ongoing Olympic Games in Paris
Schneider echoed the criticisms of others, claiming that the ceremony celebrates Satan
Schneider is not the only one offended by the opening ceremony.
Religious conservatives from around the world condemned the fragment. The Bishops’ Conference of the French Catholic Church condemned the “mocking scenes” which they said were a parody of Christianity. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, also agreed.
The Anglican Communion in Egypt expressed its “deep regret” on Sunday and said the ceremony could lead to the IOC “losing its distinctive sporting identity and its humanitarian message.”
Donald Trump Jr. has also criticized the director’s intentions, calling him “satanic.”
“My mother was an Olympic athlete (Czech National Ski Team) and as a kid we looked forward to the games for weeks,” Trump Jr. wrote on X, repeating the now-debunked, false claim that the late Ivana Trump was a member of the Czechoslovakian team for the 1972 Olympics.
“Now with the always predictable (and to me satanic) opening ceremonies with drag queens and the endless nonsense, no one I know thinks about it anymore, except maybe to watch some highlights,” he continued.
But despite all the rumors about the director’s alleged “satanic” intentions, the scene may have been misinterpreted.
The ceremony’s artistic director, Thomas Jolly, distanced himself after the ceremony from any similarities to the Last Supper, saying the scene was meant to celebrate diversity and pay tribute to partying and French gastronomy.
Anne Descamps, spokeswoman for Paris 2024, was asked about the outrage during a press conference of the International Olympic Committee on Sunday.
‘It was clearly never the intention to show disrespect to any religious group. On the contrary, I think [with] “Thomas Jolly, we really tried to celebrate the tolerance of the community,” Descamps said.
“Looking at the results of the polls we shared, we believe this ambition has been achieved. If people have felt offended, we are of course very sorry.”
The Feast of the Gods by Rottenhammer and Bruegel, circa 1602, depicts the same scene
Jolly explained his intentions to The Associated Press after the ceremony.
“My wish is not to be subversive, nor to mock or shock,” Jolly said. “I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide.”
LGBTQ+ athletes, however, seemed to be having a great time. British diver Tom Daley posted a picture of himself re-creating the striking scene with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio from ‘Titanic’, but with the roles reversed: he stood with his arms outstretched at the bow of the boat, while rower Helen Glover held him from behind.
When a gigantic silver dome rose and became visible singer Philippe Katerine lying down on a crown of fruit and flowers, almost naked and painted blue, the spectators who did not think he was Papa Smurf, thought he represented Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and ecstasy.
But if they don’t speak French, they might not have noticed the brutality of his lyrics.
“Where do you hide a gun when you’re all naked?” he sang, pointing to his crotch. “I know what you’re thinking. But that’s not a good idea.”
“No more rich and poor when you’re naked again. Yes,” Katerine continued.
Decades after Brigitte Bardot sang ‘Naked in the sun’ This was Paris’s reminder that everyone starts life in their birth costume, so where is the shame?