Barbara Butch has courageously spoken out, revealing herself as the unfortunate recipient of vile threats of rape and torture from viewers outraged by a segment of the Paris Olympics' opening ceremony that they deemed a blasphemous nod to Leonardo da Vinci's iconic 'The Last Supper.' This bold French DJ and LGBTQ+ rights pioneer has not only borne the brunt of criticism but has also filed police reports detailing targeted death threats stemming from her participation in a sequence that inadvertently evoked comparisons to the Renaissance masterpiece.
As the four-hour spectacle unfolded on Friday, drag queens and dancers gracefully assumed poses along a lengthy table, with Barbara Butch spinning tunes at its heart. Amidst this vibrant tableau, a shimmering blue figure, serenading in French, reclined on a dinner platter, creating a visual that, to some social media users, eerily mirrored the sacred scene of Jesus Christ and his apostles gathered for their final meal before his crucifixion. This unintended resonance sparked swift and fervent backlash.
High-profile figures, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, French far-right politician Marion Maréchal, and Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, vocally denounced the performance, with Johnson declaring, "Last night's mockery of The Last Supper was shocking and insulting to Christian people worldwide."
However, organizers clarified that the display was intended as a homage to the Greek deity Dionysus, sharing photographs that underscored this interpretation. Prior to the event, Butch herself had teased her participation with a photo of her elaborate headdress, captioned as that of an "OLYMPIAN MUSIC GODDESS."
Yet, the aftermath has been far from celebratory for Butch. On Monday, she bravely disclosed the harrowing reality of facing "an exceedingly vicious onslaught of cyberbullying and character assassination" solely for her role in the ceremony. Through her attorney, Audrey Msellati, Butch shared a heartfelt statement on Instagram, detailing the sinister threats of death, torture, and rape she has endured, coupled with a barrage of anti-Semitic, homophobic, sexist, and transphobic slurs.
"Barbara Butch unequivocally condemns this vile hatred, aimed not just at her but at what she embodies and advocates for," the statement read. Msellati emphasized that Butch has lodged "multiple complaints" against the perpetrators, regardless of their nationality, and vowed to pursue legal action against "anyone who dares to intimidate her in the future."
In a show of solidarity, Thomas Jolly, the artistic director behind the opening ceremony, stood firm during a press conference on Saturday, defending the performance as a testament to "inclusion." His spokesperson, Anne Descamps, added, "It was never our intention to offend any religious group. If our artwork has inadvertently caused offense, we extend our sincerest apologies."
