"The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg has advised critics of the alleged drag queen portrayal of "The Last Supper" at the Olympics opening ceremony to simply turn off their televisions and move on. Goldberg emphasized the power of personal choice and encouraged viewers to focus on the positive aspects of the Games.
"The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg has weighed in on the controversy surrounding an alleged drag queen performance that some believe depicted "The Last Supper" during the Olympics opening ceremony. Goldberg urged viewers who are offended by such portrayals to simply turn off their televisions and move on to something else.
Whoopi Goldberg Urges Disgruntled Viewers to Tune Out Olympics Amid Drag Queen 'Last Supper' Controversy
"If you are not happy with something, and it bothers you, don’t take 20 hours to write an email. Just turn the TV off," Goldberg said on Monday. "Watch something else. Put the newspaper down. Don’t look at the pictures. These are choices, you know, we’re back to this thing. These are our choices. You have the ability. Forget what Instagram is telling you. If you don’t like it, go to something else."
Goldberg's remarks come amid criticism from some quarters over a group of drag queens' apparent portrayal of the "Last Supper" scene, famously painted by Leonardo da Vinci. However, the director of the performance has denied that it was a reference to the biblical event.
Whoopi Goldberg Urges Disgruntled Viewers to Tune Out Olympics Amid Drag Queen 'Last Supper' Controversy
"The guy that put it all together said it was from ‘The Feast of the Gods,’ which is a 17th Century Dutch painting of the Greek Olympian gods," Goldberg explained. "Come on, y’all. It’s the Olympics. Stop. They’re not trying to do anything except talk about the history. They’re showing you the history. There are too many people in the picture for it to be the 12 disciples and then the seven or eight other people in the picture."
Co-host Sara Haines expressed frustration with religious arguments surrounding the performance, emphasizing the importance of intention and forgiveness. "Don’t go by the literal letter of the Bible," Haines said. "Go by the example of the word, which is live with the grace. Live with the forgiveness."
Whoopi Goldberg Urges Disgruntled Viewers to Tune Out Olympics Amid Drag Queen 'Last Supper' Controversy
Co-host Ana Navarro suggested shifting the focus to the Olympic athletes, whose achievements should be celebrated. "This was a very small part of it, and it’s what’s consumed so much of America, I guess," Navarro said. "There are young people who train their entire lives to be there, to represent our countries. Can we please give them the focus?"
Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin noted that countries often showcase their culture during Olympic opening ceremonies. "There's nothing more Parisian than Marie Antoinette's head cut-off, metal music playing and then drag queens," Griffin said. "There's something for everyone. If you don't like it, you don't have to watch."
Despite the controversy, the director of the performance has apologized to those who were offended. Jillian Michaels, a fitness expert and author, criticized the performance, arguing that it mocked something sacred to many Christians. However, Goldberg and other "The View" co-hosts maintained that viewers had the choice to ignore content that offended them.
