French citizens are divided over the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games that took place in Paris on Friday.
The entertainment, which was largely a boat parade along the River Seine, consisted of many international artists, including Céline Dion performing live and Olympians on boats representing their countries.
There was also a live reenactment of the Last Supper with drag queens and a ménage à trois sequence during one part of its ceremonies.
In a statement on X due to be released Thursday, the French Bishops’ Conference said, “This ceremony unfortunately included scenes of mockery and derision of Christianity, which we deeply regret. We would like to thank the members of other religious denominations who have expressed their solidarity with us.”
French President Emmanuel Macron also stood up for the contentious ceremonies on Thursday, saying “this morning, we are thinking of all the Christians on every continent who have been hurt by the outrageousness and provocation of certain scenes.”
Macron also said, “Thanks to Thomas Jolly and his creative genius for this grandiose ceremony. Thank you to the artists for this unique and magical moment. Thank you to the police and emergency services, agents and volunteers.”
Two years ago, a 42-year-old French actor and theater director from Rouen named Thomas Jolly was tapped to head the direction of both the opening and closing ceremonies for what will by then be Paris Olympic Games.
Opinion polls about the ceremonies have been published back and forth since the opening ceremonies.
One French X user, @JulietteBriens, wrote “As a sincerely patriotic French girl, I disolidarise myself from this freakshow and apologize to you, world.”
Another X user from France, @Arwenstar posted “As a French woman I am deeply embarrassed by this #OpeningCeremony and would like to apologise to the entire world for subjecting you all to this sick farce. Don’t hate us, it isn’t us, it’s the woke metropolitan elite – they ruin f****** everything”
A video has gone viral online of a French family reacting to the Last Supper reenactment, with the caption “POV: You’re watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games and you realize it’s the last season of the Smurfs.”
In the video, one member of the family can be heard shouting, “No no no no no no! What is that?!”
