Olympics star ‘naked blue man’ breaks silence following heavy criticism over ‘appalling’ video
Topics: Olympics, Sport, TV And Film
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: X/@GavCalver/BBC
Topics: Olympics, Sport, TV And Film
An Olympics star dubbed the 'naked blue man' has broken their silence following heavy criticism over an apparently 'appalling' video.
The performance at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Games, which took place on Friday (26 July), has sparked outrage from church leaders and conservative politicians due to its perceived comparisons to Leonardo da Vinci’s depiction of a biblical scene in 'The Last Supper' with some branding it a 'mockery' of Christianity.
The segment featured drag queens and singer painted blue sitting on a dinner plate surrounded by fruit made up as the Greek god of wine, Dionysus.
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The French Bishops’ Conference, which represents the country’s Catholic bishops, was among critics who claimed the ceremony featured 'scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity' which they 'deeply deplore'.
Since then, the French actor and singer at the centre of the performance, Philippe Katerine, has broken his silence on the matter telling BFM TV: "It wouldn't be fun if there were no controversy.
"Wouldn't it be boring if everyone agreed on this planet?"
Katerine also told French newspaper, Le Parisien, that he was 'proud' of the performance, continuing: "I suffered a lot but I loved it. I'm proud. It’s my culture.
"We’re full of different people and everyone lives their own way and, above all, has the right to do so. I loved doing it."
Meanwhile, the event's organisers have clarified that the segment was not inspired by The Last Supper.
The artistic director of the opening ceremony, Thomas Jolly, stated: "I did not intend to be subversive or to mock or shock … In France we can believe or not believe, in France we have a lot of rights and I wanted to convey those values throughout the ceremony."
The IOC has taken note of and welcomes the clarification given by the Paris 2024 Organising Committee regarding the Opening Ceremony. pic.twitter.com/kEB9zyw3Ue
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) July 28, 2024
Jolly told French broadcaster BFM: "The idea was to do a big pagan party linked to the gods of Olympus."
He continued: "You'll never find in my work any desire to mock or denigrate anyone. I wanted a ceremony that brings people together, that reconciles, but also a ceremony that affirms our Republican values of liberty, equality and fraternity."
Paris 2024 spokeswoman Anne Descamps added: "Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group.
"On the contrary, I think Thomas Jolly did try to intend to celebrate community tolerance. We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offence, we of course are really sorry."