'I'm Very Open-Minded, But…': Trump Calls Paris Olympic Opening Ceremony 'A Disgrace' | WATCH

Donald Trump on Monday called the Olympics opening ceremony in Paris a “disgrace” after its creators came under fire for what some said was a show gone too far, hurting the sentiments of the Christian community.

“I’m very open-minded but I thought what they did was a disgrace,” the US Republican presidential candidate told Fox News, following condemnation from Catholic groups and French bishops of a scene involving dancers, drag queens and a DJ in poses that appeared to recall depictions of the Last Supper, although creators have said it was not meant to represent the religious setting.

This comes after Paris 2024 organisers on Sunday apologised to Catholics and other Christian groups angered by a kitsch tableau in the Olympic Games opening ceremony that appeared to parody Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” painting.

Drag queens, naked singer

The segment, which resembled the biblical scene of Jesus Christ and his apostles sharing a last meal before crucifixion and featured drag queens, a transgender model and a naked singer made up as the Greek god of wine Dionysus, drew dismay from the Catholic Church and the religious right in America.

“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. (The opening ceremony) tried to celebrate community tolerance,” Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps told a press conference. “We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offence we are really sorry.”

READ MORE: ‘An Abomination, Blasphemy’: Paris Olympics Drag Show Parodying The Last Supper Sparks Outrage | WATCH

The International Olympic Committee said it took note of Paris 2024’s clarification. Thomas Jolly, the artistic director behind the flamboyant opening ceremony, said the scene had not been inspired by “The Last Supper” and depicted a pagan feast linked to the gods of Olympus. “You will never find in my work a desire to denigrate anyone or anything,” Jolly told broadcaster BFMTV.

Catholic heritage

France, while proud of its rich Catholic heritage, also has a long tradition of both secularism and anti-clericalism. Blasphemy is not only legal, but also considered by many as an essential pillar of freedom of speech. Hugo Bardin, whose drag queen character Paloma took part in the tableau, was disappointed Paris 2024 had felt compelled to apologise.

“An apology means recognising a mistake, recognising that you deliberately did something to harm, which was not the case,” Bardin said. “What bothers people isn’t that we’re reproducing this painting,” Bardin continued, “what bothers people is that queer people are reproducing it.” Supporters of the tableau praised its message of inclusivity and tolerance. However, the Catholic church in France said it deplored a ceremony that “included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity”.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna, the highest-ranking Catholic official in Malta and an official for the Vatican’s powerful doctrinal office, said he had contacted France’s ambassador to Malta to complain about the “gratuitous insult”. In a message to the ambassador shared on X, he wrote: “I would like to express my distress and great disappointment at the insult to us Christians during the opening ceremony … when a group of drag artists parodied the Last Supper of Jesus.”

(With agency inputs)