Actor and comedian Rob Schneider has become the latest celebrity to slam part of the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony.
Friday's show came under fire for one segment that saw a fashion parade and dancing on the Debilly Footbridge over the River Seine. Led by DJ Barbara Butch, it featured performers from a wide range of genders, ages and abilities.
But some people were unhappy with an opening shot of it that saw a close-up of Butch dressed as a goddess complete with halo and as the camera panned out, revealed models draped on either side of her.
According to the Paris 2024 Olympics Organizing committee the bridge "was transformed into the venue for a gigantic banquet for the evening."
Some people watching at home believed it was a nod to Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting, The Last Supper, which depicts Jesus and his disciples on the night before he was crucified.
Schneider slammed the segment as disrespectful to Christianity .
"I am sorry to say to ALL the world's GREATEST ATHLETES, I wish you ALL THE BEST, but I cannot watch an Olympics that disrespects Christianity and openly celebrates Satan. I sincerely hope THESE@Olympics get the same amount of viewers as@cspan," the Deuce Bigalow actor wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Another person to slam the moment was former Big Loser trainer, Jillian Michaels.
"Dear fellow gays... We demand tolerance and respect but then make a mockery of something sacred for over 2 billion Christians. This type of hypocrisy and lack of understanding is a bad look. We get outraged when the extreme right bashes us, but then we do this s***. What kind of reaction do you think they will have toward the LGBTQ+ community after this. This is NOT how we break down barriers it's how you build them," she wrote on X.
Former decathlete champion Caitlyn Jenner also waded into the debate, including those defending the segment by saying it was a tribute to the painting Feast of Dionysus. The Ancient Greek god was depicted during the performance by a person painted in blue.
"Not really seeing how the opening ceremony image was more like this Greco feast as opposed to a more blatant mockery of da Vinci's Last Supper..." Jenner first wrote on X, then added, "As an Olympian and a Christian (and you don't have to be either to see the absurdity here) I am outraged."
Newsweek contacted the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee by email for comment.
Country music singer, John Rich, also declared he would not be watching the Olympic Games this year following the divisive segment, and asked his followers in a poll if they would be watching. Of the almost 20,000 votes, 96.4 percent replied "no way!"
Rich also shared a link to one of his songs called "Revelation."
"Here is the counter to the demonic opening of the Olympics. Pass THE WORD. #REVELATION," Rich captioned the video.
Full House actress Candace Cameron Bure similarly spoke out against the segment.
"It felt too important not to [speak up] and I love the Olympic Games, I love them. My husband [Val Bure] is a two-time Olympic medalist, so is my brother-in-law, and my father-in-law is a three-time Olympic medalist," she said in an Instagram post on Sunday. "I have many friends that have competed in Games over the years and it's something as a kid I have always loved ... the Olympic Games have always brought me so much joy."
Flavio Juan Nunez, who designed the DJ's halo described her costume on Instagram as an "OLYMPIAN MUSIC GODDESS HALO custom headset... "during the choreographed " festivité " tableau to celebrate Love, inclusivity, diversity through music & dance to unite all of us."
Butch herself introduced herself to the world after her scene-stealing Olympics DJ set.
"Hi my name is Barbara Butch , I m a Love activist , Dj and producer based in Paris. My aim is to unite people, gather humans & share love through music for all of Us to dance & make our hearts beat at unisson! Music sounds better with all of Us!" the DJ wrote on Instagram.
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