Artistic
Director Defends 'Last Supper' Scene After Criticism (Connecting
the Dots: International Olympic Committee, France, Vatican, O'Melveny & Myers LLP, LGBTQ, Alejandro
N. Mayorkas, French-American Foundation & Soros Funding, All Networking)
Saturday, 27 July 2024 02:15 PM EDT
https://www.newsmax.com/world/globaltalk/olympics-2024-drag-queens/2024/07/27/id/1174193/
Drag
queens took center stage at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony,
showcasing what many see as the vibrant and influential role of the French LGBTQ+ community —
while also attracting criticism over a tableau reminiscent of “The Last
Supper.”
Held
along the Seine River, the spectacular four-hour event featured global stars
such as Celine Dion and Lady Gaga, both considered icons in the gay community.
The ceremony blended historic and modern French culture with a touch of kitsch,
culminating in a flotilla of barges carrying thousands of Olympians.
Nicky
Doll, known for competing on the 12th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and
hosting “Drag Race France,” participated in a high-octane fashion runway
segment along with “Drag Race France” Season 1 winner Paloma, Season 3's Piche,
and Giselle Palmer. \
Le
Filip, the recent winner of “Drag Race France,” expressed their positive
“surprise” and “pride” at the ceremony’s scale and representation.
“I
thought it would be a five-minute drag event with queer representation. I was
amazed. It started with Lady Gaga, then we had drag queens, a huge rave, and a
fire in the sky,” they said. “It felt like a crowning all over again. I am
proud to see my friends and queer people on the world stage.”
Among
their performances was a scene that seemed to evoke Leonardo da Vinci’s “The
Last Supper,” featuring the drag queens and other performers in a configuration
reminiscent of Jesus Christ and his apostles. This segment drew significant
attention — and mixed reactions.
“The
(French) government knows what it’s doing. They want to show themselves in the
best way possible. They showed no restraints in expression,” Le Filip told The
Associated Press.
On
the other hand, prominent politician Marion Maréchal denounced the
performance on social media.
“To
all the Christians of the world who are watching the Paris 2024 ceremony and
felt insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not
France
that is speaking but a left-wing minority ready for any provocation,” she
posted on the social platform X, a sentiment that was echoed by religious
conservatives internationally.
“...
because decapitating Habsburgs and ridiculising central Christian events are
really the FIRST two things that spring to mind when you think of
#OlympicGames,” Eduard Habsburg, Hungary's ambassador to the Vatican, posted on X,
also referencing a scene depicting the beheading of Marie Antoinette.
Thomas
Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony, afterward drew attention
away from “The Last Supper” references, saying that hadn't been his intention.
“It
feels like the words of somebody who didn’t get on the guest list. We could all
be laughing together. It’s sad to me, honestly,” Le Filip said.
Inter-LGBT
President James Leperlier was more circumspect, arguing that France still has
significant strides to make in inclusivity.
“We
know in the LGBTQ community in France we are far from what the ceremony showed.
There’s much progress to do in society regarding transgender people. It’s
terrible that to legally change their identity they are forced to be on trial,”
Leperlier said.
He
also highlighted the disparity in acceptance, saying that the community is not
visible in other official ceremonies and “has difficulty being heard.”
“If
you saw the opening ceremony last night you’d think it was like that normally,
but it’s not. France tried to show what it should be and not what it is,” he
said.
The
opening ceremony came as drag and the voguing nightclub scene in France has
experienced a revival. The cabaret club Madame Arthur, founded in 1946 in the
ashes of World War II, is one of the world’s oldest continually running LGBTQ+
theaters. It opened as Europe was only just beginning to understand the extent
of the widespread murder of members of the queer community in WWII and is
currently experiencing a massive renaissance.
Drag
is not just a pastime; for many minority French communities who feel alienated
over tensions arising from divisive politics and scars from the anti-gay
marriage protests a decade ago, it’s a statement of defiance. Many gay Black
and Arab youths — especially those from Paris’ less affluent and religiously
conservative suburbs — and others who feel a sense of disconnect with French
society find voguing and drag events safe places where their identities can be
expressed without fear of reprisal.
Despite
the backlash, Le Filip believes the opening ceremony will ultimately transcend
controversy.
“The
message of the show is freedom, and it’s a good postcard for France,” they
concluded.
Connecting
the Dots:
O'Melveny
& Myers LLP was the lobby firm for the International
Olympic Committee.
Thomas E. Donilon was
a partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP and is married to Catherine
Russell (Jill Biden’s Chief of Staff).
Alejandro N. Mayorkas was an
attorney at O'Melveny & Myers LLP and is the secretary for the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security for the Joe Biden
Administration.
U.S. Secret Service is a
division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Kimberly Cheatle was the 27th director for the U.S.
Secret Service and served as Senior Director in Global Security
at PepsiCo.
Michael H. Jordan was
the division chairman & CEO for PepsiCo, Inc., and an honorary
trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Larry D. Thompson is
the EVP of governmental affairs, general counsel & secretary for PepsiCo,
Inc. and at trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Thomas E. Donilon was a trustee at the Brookings Institution
(think tank), the White House deputy national security adviser for
the Barack Obama administration, a partner at O'Melveny
& Myers LLP and is married to Catherine Russell (Jill Biden’s Chief of Staff).
Arthur B.
Culvahouse Jr. is a trustee at the Brookings Institution
(think tank) and a partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for
the Brookings Institution (think tank).
George Soros was the chairman
for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and Christine Lagarde attended
his 2013 wedding reception.
Christine
Lagarde attended George Soros’s 2013 wedding
reception and was the finance minister of France.
William T.
Coleman Jr. was an honorary trustee at the Brookings
Institution (think tank) and a senior partner at O'Melveny
& Myers LLP.
Zoe Baird is an
honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and
was a partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP.
Danielle C. Gray was
a lawyer at O'Melveny & Myers LLP and is an associate
counsel for the Barack Obama administration.
Derek Douglas was
an associate at O'Melveny & Myers LLP and a special
assistant for urban affairs for the Barack Obama administration.
Ronald A. Klain was a
partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP and the chief of staff to
the vice president for the Barack Obama administration.
Warren
Christopher was a senior partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP
and an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States
(think tank).
Reuben Jeffery III is a
director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank)
and a director at the French-American Foundation.
Open Society Foundations was a funder
for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).
George Soros is the founder & chairman
for the Open Society Foundations and the founder of the Soros
Fund Management.
Anne Dias Griffin was
an analyst for the Soros Fund Management and is a director at
the French-American Foundation.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder
for the Brookings Institution (think tank).
George Soros was the chairman for
the Foundation to Promote Open Society and Christine Lagarde attended
his 2013 wedding reception.
Christine Lagarde attended George Soros’s 2013
wedding reception, and was the finance minister for France.
Howard H. Leach was
a U.S. ambassador for France, a director at the French-American
Foundation, a regent at the University of California and a
board member for the Haas School of Business.
Richard C. Blum was
a regent at the University of California, a board member for
the Haas School of Business, married to California Senator
Dianne Feinstein and an honorary trustee at the Brookings
Institution (think tank).
C. Douglas Dillon was
a chairman for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a U.S.
ambassador for France.
Richard L.
Kauffman was a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think
tank) and a director at the French-American Foundation.
John A. Thain is a director at the French-American
Foundation and was Timothy F. Geithner’s unofficial
adviser.
Timothy F.
Geithner’s unofficial adviser was John A. Thain and is an
overseer, director for the International Rescue Committee.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue
Committee and the Center for American Progress.
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote
Open Society and a supporter for the Center for American Progress.
Dina Dublon is
an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and a director
at PepsiCo, Inc.
Indra K. Nooyi is
an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and the chair
& CEO for PepsiCo, Inc.
PepsiCo, Inc. was
a funder for the Center for American Progress.
Kimberly Cheatle served as Senior Director in Global Security at PepsiCo.
and was the 27th director for the U.S. Secret Service.
U.S. Secret
Service is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security.
Alejandro N.
Mayorkas is the secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security for the Joe Biden Administration and was an
attorney at O'Melveny & Myers LLP.
Michael H. Jordan was
the division chairman & CEO for PepsiCo, Inc., and an honorary
trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Larry D. Thompson is
the EVP of governmental affairs, general counsel & secretary for PepsiCo,
Inc. and at trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Thomas E. Donilon was a trustee at the Brookings Institution
(think tank), the White House deputy national security adviser for
the Barack Obama administration, a partner at O'Melveny
& Myers LLP and is married to Catherine Russell (Jill Biden’s
Chief of Staff).
Arthur B.
Culvahouse Jr. is a trustee at the Brookings Institution
(think tank) and a partner at O'Melveny & Myers LLP.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for
the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the Roosevelt
Institute.
George Soros was the chairman for
the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Anna Eleanor
Roosevelt is the chair for the Roosevelt Institute and
an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation.
Mikhail Gorbachev is
an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation and was
general secretary for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
Carl A. Anderson was
an advisory board member for the Wheelchair Foundation, is the
supreme knight for the Knights of Columbus, a trustee at the Catholic
University of America and a board member for the Vatican Bank.
Vatican Bank is
the bank for the Vatican.
Jeh Charles Johnson was a
governor for the Roosevelt Institute and is the secretary for
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
U.S. Secret
Service is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security.
Kimberly Cheatle is the 27th director
for the U.S. Secret Service and served as Senior Director in
Global Security at PepsiCo.
Dina Dublon is a
director at PepsiCo, Inc and an overseer at the International
Rescue Committee.
Indra K. Nooyi is
the chair & CEO for PepsiCo, Inc and an overseer at the International
Rescue Committee.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for
the International Rescue Committee and Demos.
George Soros was the chairman
for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a contributor for
the American Bridge 21st Century.
Clifford S.
Asness is a director at the International Rescue Committee
and supported same-sex marriage in New York.
Demos was a funder
for the National Education Association.
American
Bridge 21st Century was a contributor for the National
Education Association.
John I. Wilson was
an executive director for the National Education Association and is
a director at the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.
Kevin Jennings was
the founder & executive director for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight
Education Network, and is an executive director for the Arcus
Foundation.
Arcus Foundation was
a funder for the Center for American Progress.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder
for the Center for American Progress.
George Soros was the chairman for
the Foundation to Promote Open Society and a supporter for
the Center for American Progress.
PepsiCo, Inc. was
a funder for the Center for American Progress.
Kimberly
Cheatle served as Senior
Director in Global Security at PepsiCo. and was the 27th director
for the U.S. Secret Service.
U.S. Secret
Service is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security.
Alejandro N. Mayorkas is the
secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for
the Joe Biden Administration and was an attorney at O'Melveny
& Myers LLP.
O'Melveny
& Myers LLP was the lobby firm for the International
Olympic Committee.
Jeh Charles
Johnson is the secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security and was a governor for the Roosevelt Institute.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder
for the Roosevelt Institute and the Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace (think tank).
George Soros was the chairman for
the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think
tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think
tank).
Ted Turner is the
co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and was
the owner of the Atlanta Braves.
Michael P. Plant
is the EVP & business operations for the Atlanta Braves and was
a director at the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a
funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).
Jamie S. Gorelick was
a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think
tank) and Merrick Garland’s boss.
Merrick Garland’s boss was Jamie
Gorelick and is the Attorney General at the U.S. Department of
Justice (DOJ) for the Biden Administration.
Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a division of the U.S.
Department of Justice (DOJ).
James A. Baker III was
the general counsel for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
and is an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United
States (think tank).
William H. Webster was
a director at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and is a
director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).
Open Society Foundations was a funder for
the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).
George Soros is the founder
& chairman for the Open Society Foundations.
Reuben Jeffery
III is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States
(think tank) and a director at the French-American Foundation.
Warren
Christopher was an honorary director at the Atlantic Council
of the United States (think tank) and a senior partner at O'Melveny
& Myers LLP.
O'Melveny
& Myers LLP was the lobby firm for the International
Olympic Committee.
Alejandro N.
Mayorkas was an attorney at O'Melveny & Myers LLP and is
the secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for
the Joe Biden Administration.
U.S. Secret
Service is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security.
Kimberly Cheatle was the 27th director for the U.S.
Secret Service and served as Senior Director in Global Security at PepsiCo.
Dina Dublon is a
director at PepsiCo, Inc and an overseer at the International
Rescue Committee.
Indra K. Nooyi is
the chair & CEO for PepsiCo, Inc and an overseer at the International
Rescue Committee.
Clifford S.
Asness is a director at the International Rescue Committee
and supported same-sex marriage in New York.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for
the International Rescue Committee.
George Soros was the chairman for
the Foundation to Promote Open Society and is the founder &
chairman for the Open Society Foundations.
ONE Campaign is
a partner with the International Rescue Committee.
Michelle Obama was
an advocate for the ONE Campaign.
Morton H. Halperin is
a director at the ONE Campaign, a senior adviser for the Open
Society Foundations, Mark Halperin’s father and was a senior fellow
at the Center for American Progress.
PepsiCo, Inc. was
a funder for the Center for American Progress.
Open Society Foundations was a funder for
the Center for American Progress, the Catholic Relief Services,
the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank)
and the Human Rights Watch.
George Soros is the founder
& chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was a
supporter for the Center for American Progress and a benefactor at
the Human Rights Watch.
John J.
Studzinski is a director at the Atlantic Council of
the United States (think tank), a director at the Human Rights
Watch, and a papal knighthood knight.
papal knighthood is
an honor conferred by pope from the Roman Catholic Church.
Reuben Jeffery
III is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States
(think tank) and a director at the French-American Foundation.
Warren
Christopher was an honorary director at the Atlantic Council
of the United States (think tank) and a senior partner at O'Melveny
& Myers LLP.
O'Melveny
& Myers LLP was the lobby firm for the International
Olympic Committee.
Resources:
Past Research
Coca-Cola
Bows to Conservative Critics, Adds 'E Pluribus Unum' to Ad for Olympics (Past Research on the Olympics)
Saturday,
February 8, 2014
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2014/02/coca-cola-bows-to-conservative-critics.html
Backers
Push Jerry Brown to Run for President in 2016 (Past
Research on O'Melveny & Myers LLP)
Thursday,
December 26, 2013
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2013/12/backers-push-jerry-brown-to-run-for.html
Presbyterian
Church Votes To Allow Gay Marriages (Past Research
on Gay Marriage)
Saturday,
June 21, 2014
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2014/06/presbyterian-church-votes-to-allow-gay.html
Vatican:
Assassination Attempt 'Wounds People and Democracy' (Connecting the Dots:
Vatican, Holy See, Mikhail Gorbachev, Wheelchair Foundation, Secret Service,
Morton Halperin, Alejandro Mayorkas, O'Melveny & Myers LLP & Soros
Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on the Vatican)
Monday,
July 15, 2024
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2024/07/vatican-assassination-attempt-wounds.html
Vatican
Hires Large American Consultancy Firm to Advise on Media Operations (Past Research on the Vatican)
Monday,
December 23, 2013
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2013/12/vatican-hires-large-american.html
Pope
Asks for Special Prayers for 'very Sick' Benedict XVI (Connecting the Dots:
Catholic Church, Papal Knighthood, McKinsey & Company (Vatican Hires
McKinsey & Company) & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on the Vatican)
Wednesday,
December 28, 2022
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2022/12/pope-asks-for-special-prayers-for-very.html
The
Latest: 7 Arrested In Belgium Over Paris Attacks (Past
Research on France)
Sunday,
November 15, 2015
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-latest-7-arrested-in-belgium-over.html
France’s
Macron Positions Himself as Globalist ‘Anti-Trump’ at UN Meeting (Past Research on France)
Thursday,
September 21, 2017
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2017/09/frances-macron-positions-himself-as.html
Aspen
Security Forum gathers experts in global, domestic affairs for wide-ranging
conversation (Connecting the Dots: Kimberly Cheatle, U.S. Secret Service,
Alejandro Mayorkas, Aspen Security Forum, Aspen Strategy Group, Aspen Institute
(think tank), Condoleezza Rice, Kamala Harris, Hunter Biden & Soros
Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on Alejandro
Mayorkas & Kimberly Cheatle)
Tuesday,
July 23, 2024
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2024/07/aspen-security-forum-gathers-experts-in.html
Vatican:
Assassination Attempt 'Wounds People and Democracy' (Connecting the Dots:
Vatican, Holy See, Mikhail Gorbachev, Wheelchair Foundation, Secret Service,
Morton Halperin, Alejandro Mayorkas, O'Melveny & Myers LLP & Soros
Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on the
Vatican)
Monday,
July 15, 2024
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2024/07/vatican-assassination-attempt-wounds.html
McCaul,
Chertoff: Olympics Facing Unprecedented Security Threat (Past Research on the Atlanta Braves)
Sunday,
January 26, 2014
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2014/01/mccaul-chertoff-olympics-facing.html
International
Rescue Committee (Past Research on the International
Rescue Committee & the ONE Campaign)
Thursday,
December 21, 2017
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2017/12/international-rescue-committee.html
Newsmax
Commentator Halperin: Biden Exit From WH Race Likely This Weekend (Connecting
the Dots: Mark Halperin, His Father Morton Halperin, Open Society Foundations,
Kimberly Cheatle, PepsiCo & Soros Funding, All Networking) (Past Research on Mark Halperin)
Thursday,
July 18, 2024
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2024/07/newsmax-commentator-halperin-biden-exit.html
As
U.S. Visit Nears, Pope Francis Points to Climate Change (Past Research on the papal knighthood)
Sunday,
September 13, 2015
https://thesteadydrip.blogspot.com/2015/09/as-us-visit-nears-pope-francis-points.html
