Convention Chief Brands Olympic Opening As ‘Disturbing’
On Monday, Brent Leatherwood, the head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, wrote a letter to Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), expressing his disapproval of the recent Olympic opening ceremony in Paris. Leatherwood found the ceremony “deeply disturbing,” criticizing its imagery as an apparent mockery of God and Christianity.
Leatherwood’s letter to Bach described how Southern Baptists were upset by the ceremony, which they felt marginalized Christians instead of fostering global unity. The event featured controversial elements, including a bearded drag queen, exposed male genitalia, and a performer named Barbara Butch, who was perceived by some as a mock representation of Jesus in a scene reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” The ceremony also included a French actor painted blue, symbolizing Dionysus, a pagan deity associated with excess and revelry.
Leatherwood previously voiced concerns about the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, citing its alleged downplaying of the Chinese Communist Party’s treatment of Uyghurs. He now expressed regret over the “obscene image” broadcast to millions worldwide, criticizing the inclusion of what he called “inappropriate spectacle” in the opening ceremony.
Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the ceremony, defended the portrayal as an attempt to celebrate inclusivity rather than to offend. Jolly claimed the scene was meant to represent a pagan feast, not a direct imitation of “The Last Supper.” Leatherwood, however, questioned how such an offensive portrayal was approved for a global audience, arguing that it undermines the Olympic values of harmony and respect.
Leatherwood urged the IOC to implement measures to prevent similar issues in future events, suggesting that consultation with religious scholars might help avoid offending various faith communities. The ceremony also faced criticism from the Roman Catholic French Bishops’ Conference, which, while acknowledging the event’s positive aspects, condemned the scenes perceived as disrespectful to Christianity.