The BBC has responded following a large number of complaints regarding the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The dazzling spectacle drew backlash for its depiction of Leonardo da Vinci's painting "The Last Supper".
Viewers accused organisers of creating a 'woke' parody of the famous painting, which depicts Jesus' last meal with his disciples. The recreation of the famous biblical scene included a group of drag queens and a transgender model.
The broadcaster replied with the following statement: "The BBC has no input into the content of the ceremony or in filming the event. Instead, the host national Olympic committee and the International Olympic Committee organise the ceremony and distribute a world feed to broadcasters around the world.
"The organisers have since apologised to those who were offended by the scene, which you can read at the following address - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/articles/cw4yqvegkexo."
The imitation of The Last Supper during the opening ceremony unintentionally caused offence to Christians, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
READ MORE: Strictly's Oti Mabuse 'in tears' as she shares emotional family update [LATEST]
Taking to X, he penned: "This was extremely disrespectful to Christians."
Professional boxer Ryan Garcia also voice his disapproval and wrote online: "The Olympics needs to be boycotted now. You can't disrespect religion in front of millions. This ain't right no one watch."
American commentator Clint Russell also wrote: "This is crazy. Opening your event by replacing Jesus and the disciples at the The Last Supper with men in drag. There are 2.4 billion Christians on earth and apparently the Olympics wanted to declare loudly to all of them, right out of the gate: NOT WELCOME."
Shane Pruitt, a pastor and author from Texas, waded in and said: "Drag queens mock Christianity during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics in Paris as they attempt to recreate da Vinci's painting of Jesus' Last Supper. Not only are Christians the only people that it is socially acceptable to mock ... it's actually celebrated and put front and center."
What's more, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, the highest-ranking Catholic official in Malta, contacted France's ambassador to Malta to emphasise his “distress and great disappointment at the insult”.
Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley had his say on the controversial scene, saying the act was “insulting to Christians”.
He said: “It was just rude. I don’t mean the drag queens themselves – drag is so mainstream now, it’s boring – but why gratuitously insult millions of watching Christians who up to that moment were enjoying the ceremony?
"Mocking Christians is easy. They don’t punch back. So there was nothing brave about the parody."
