Thomas Jolly, the visionary artistic maestro behind the dazzling opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics, alongside two integral event architects, Alexandre Billard and Thierry Reboul, lodged a second urgent complaint on August 3rd, alleging they had been subjected to menacing death threats. This alarming revelation swiftly ignited the crime unit (BRDP) into action, embarking on a fresh investigation, as confirmed by the Paris prosecutor's office.
According to the esteemed national daily, Le Parisien, the chilling threats eerily invoked verses from the Quran, portending doom: "Allah's wrath shall descend upon the organizers in the hallowed grounds of Saint Denis." The grand finale, slated for Stade de France, nestled in the heart of Saint Denis, a suburb of Paris, now hangs heavy with anticipation and unease.
Billard, co-helming the event planning prowess of Ubi Bene, and Reboul, the executive architect of Olympic ceremony magic, stand united in the face of adversity. Prior to this, Jolly had sounded the alarm on July 30th, his initial complaint echoing the distress of the ceremony's DJ, Barbara Butch, who too had filed a complaint against cyber harassment.
While the opening ceremony has garnered universal acclaim for its ingenuity and groundbreaking outdoor execution—a first in modern Olympic history—it has also sparked a fiery controversy. The Catholic Church and prominent conservative voices, including Rob Schneider and Candace Cameron Bure, have taken aim at a particular scene, deemed a playful nod to Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece, "The Last Supper," stirring up a storm of disapproval.
Last weekend, Jolly addressed the French media outlet BFMTV, clarifying that the segment in question was not, in fact, a nod to "The Last Supper," but a heartfelt homage to the rich tapestry of Greek mythology. Nevertheless, the controversy raged on, fueling debates and passions.
Amidst the storm, French President Emmanuel Macron stood firmly by Jolly's side during a visit to the historic Olympic site within the Invalides. As AFP reported, Macron emphatically stated, "No justification exists for threatening an artist. The French nation was deeply proud of this ceremony; it embodied our audacity, and did so with the unbridled freedom that defines us."
In his official complaint, Jolly revealed that he had become the unfortunate "bullseye" of online vitriol, with threats and malicious slurs targeting his sexual identity and falsely attributed Israeli heritage.
Meanwhile, Butch, who featured prominently in the scene that inadvertently stirred up comparisons to "The Last Supper," took to Instagram earlier this week to disclose that she had been subjected to a relentless and vicious online harassment campaign, marred by defamation and hate. Speaking to Le Parisien, she further disclosed the extent of the abuse, which included antisemitic slurs, swastikas, as well as homophobic, sexist, and fat-phobic insults, culminating in chilling messages urging her to take her own life. This ordeal painted a harrowing portrait of the harsh realities faced by artists daring to push boundaries in the digital age.
Amidst the uproar sparked by what appeared to be a parody of Leonardo Da Vinci's iconic "The Last Supper," Jolly granted an interview to French news outlet BFM TV, eloquently addressing the controversy. He explained that the scene, which had unleashed a deluge of hateful remarks, was meticulously crafted to illuminate "the absurdity of violence among humankind," vehemently denying any influence from the renowned religious painting. Instead, Jolly unveiled the true intent: "to stage a grand pagan celebration, deeply rooted in the mythology of the Olympian gods."
"The intention was crystal clear," he elaborated, "it's Dionysus who gracefully enters the scene. His presence? A testament to his status as the Greek deity of revelry, wine, and the patriarch of Sequana, the goddess who watches over the Seine. It's a narrative woven with the essence of ancient festivities."
Now, Jolly is immersed in orchestrating the grand finale, a spectacle that promises to captivate audiences worldwide. The closing ceremony will showcase a breathtaking stunt by none other than Tom Cruise, coupled with performances by globally acclaimed artists, promising an unforgettable experience that transcends boundaries.
