Comedian Rob Schneider has become the latest public figure to criticize the 2024 Paris Olympic Games' opening ceremony, calling it a "disrespect to Christianity" and a "celebration of Satan." The ceremony included a controversial performance that many interpreted as mocking the iconic Leonardo da Vinci painting of Jesus and his disciples during "The Last Supper."
Comedian Rob Schneider has joined a growing chorus of critics slamming the 2024 Paris Olympic Games' opening ceremony for its alleged mockery of Christianity.
The ceremony, which took place on Friday, July 26, featured a performance that many interpreted as a mockery of the iconic Leonardo da Vinci painting of Jesus and his disciples during "The Last Supper." The performance featured a performer wearing a silvery headdress with drag artists and dancers to the right and left. A scantily-clad singer, painted blue, also appeared on the table during the performance.
Rob Schneider Slams Paris Olympics for "Celebrating Satan" with Opening Ceremony
Schneider took to social media to express his outrage over the performance, calling it a "disrespect to Christianity" and a "celebration of Satan."
"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," he wrote in a post on Twitter.
Rob Schneider Slams Paris Olympics for "Celebrating Satan" with Opening Ceremony
Schneider's criticism follows similar comments from other public figures, including Elon Musk, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, actress Candace Cameron Bure, fitness guru Jillian Michaels, and former President Donald Trump.
Christian faith leaders have also strongly opposed the spectacle, with Daniel Darling, director of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's Land Center for Cultural Engagement, telling Fox News Digital that he was "appalled at the grotesque mockery of the Lord's Supper in the opening ceremonies."
Rob Schneider Slams Paris Olympics for "Celebrating Satan" with Opening Ceremony
Others, however, have defended the opening ceremony, arguing that it was not intended to be a mockery of Christianity but instead served as a portrayal of the Feast of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and fertility. Event officials have also insisted that the performance was not meant to offend.
"My wish isn’t to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock," Thomas Jolly, the ceremony's artistic director, said. "Most of all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide."
Rob Schneider Slams Paris Olympics for "Celebrating Satan" with Opening Ceremony
Despite the controversy, the Paris Olympics are expected to proceed as scheduled. The Games will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024, and will feature over 10,000 athletes from around the world.
