Nigerian Actress Juliana Olayode Criticizes 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony for Controversial Religious Depiction Featuring Drag Queens and Transgender Model
Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News
5 minutes read. Updated 10:02AM GMT Tues, 30July, 2024
Nigerian actress Juliana Olayode has taken a firm stand against the controversial portrayal of religious themes during the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, which has sparked international outrage. The ceremony’s depiction, which included a parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s revered painting, The Last Supper, featuring drag queens, a transgender model, and a performer dressed as the Greek god of wine, has drawn criticism from various quarters.
On July 29, 2024, Olayode expressed her discontent through a detailed post on her official Instagram account, labeling the performance as “completely unacceptable,” “bizarre,” and “disrespectful.” She voiced her concerns, stating, “This is completely unacceptable! This is bizarre, this is disrespectful and wrong in every way! Last time I checked, the Olympics are a sports event and should be about sporting events, not about religion or gender identity. NOT DISRESPECTING PEOPLE’S FAITH!”
The actress’s remarks reflect a broader frustration among many Christians who perceive a growing trend of disrespect towards Christianity. Olayode, while acknowledging her belief that “MY GOD CAN DEFEND HIMSELF,” expressed her disappointment in the silence often maintained by Christians in the face of perceived attacks on their faith. “I am actually very upset, I wasn’t even going to do this post, because I know that MY GOD CAN DEFEND HIMSELF! But as Christians, we have kept quiet for too long and that’s why we are where we are. People of other faiths would speak up, without hesitation at the sight of anything they found disrespectful to their religion. No matter how small,” she elaborated.
Olayode criticized the Olympics organizers for incorporating such controversial elements into the ceremony, arguing that Christianity is frequently disrespected across various platforms, including music, movies, and media. She stated, “The world always fights the TRUTH. The world is constantly attacking/disrespecting Christianity, in music, movies, on the news, on some TV shows and now in sports. It is very disgusting and disrespectful! Whoever approved this for the Olympics opening ceremony should be checked.”
This incident has resonated globally, with notable backlash from Catholics, Christians, and other conservative groups. In response to the uproar, Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps addressed the issue at a press conference, offering an apology. “Clearly, there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. The opening ceremony tried to celebrate community tolerance. We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offence we are really sorry,” Descamps stated.
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