Organisers of the Paris Olympics have said they are 'really sorry' for any offence caused by the opening ceremony, amid accusations one scene depicted a 'woke' parody of the Last Supper and was a 'gross mockery' of Christianity.
Friday's showpiece was slammed by critics and viewers alike as being too controversial and sparked calls on social media to boycott the troubled Games, which have also been hampered by inclement weather.
Among the various artistic tableaus, named after French values such as freedom, fraternity and equality, it was the Last Supper-style performance in 'festivité' - or party - scene which caused the most backlash.
Complete with models, dancers, fashion icons and drag queens from the host nation, the performance took place on a bridge over the capital's river around a table, which also doubled as a catwalk.
At the centre was a woman in front of DJ equipment with a golden halo-style crown, surrounded by several drag queens and dozens of dancers and performers.
Organisers of the Paris Olympics have said they are 'really sorry' for any offence caused by the opening ceremony, amid accusations of a 'gross mockery' of Christianity
Critics argued that one segment poked fun at Leonardo da Vinci's revered depiction of the Last Supper, with Jesus in the centre surrounded by his disciples
At the centre of the scene was a woman in front of DJ equipment with a golden halo-style crown, surrounded by several drag queens and dozens of dancers and performers
Rounding off the scene, French actor and singer Phillippe Katerine played the role of the Greek god of wine Dionysus. He was painted blue and naked, except for strategically-placed fruit
A fashion show which showcased clothing designed by some of France's most promising young designers took centre stage, as those seated on either side performed slick choreography.
Among those present was Drag Race icon Nicky Doll, who has appeared on the French franchise, RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World and now hosts France's own version.
Many young people and fans of the popular TV show took to social media to praise the tableau, which aimed to echo the atmosphere of a nightclub and featured dancing and lip-syncing on the soaking-wet stage.
But others were less impressed, accusing organisers of creating a 'woke' parody of the Last Supper - a painting by Leonardo da Vinci depicting Jesus' last meal with his disciples.
In a press conference on Sunday, Paris 2024 organiser Anne Descamps apologised for any offence caused and insisted that the ceremony intended to 'celebrate community tolerance'.
According to Elon Musk, Christianity had become 'toothless' in being able to be mocked with such ease
In another comment on X, Elon Musk revealed his displeasure with Friday night's ceremony
Elsewhere US Catholic Bishop Robert Barron slammed the opening ceremony for making a 'gross mockery' of Christianity
Right-wing French politician Marion Marechal was critical of the Last Supper depiction
Italian politicianMatteo Salvini said: 'Opening the Olympics by insulting billions of Christians in the world was really a very bad start, dear French. Sleazy'
'Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group,' she said.
'On the contrary, I think Thomas Jolly did try to intend to celebrate community tolerance.
'We believe this ambition was achieved, if people have taken any offence, we of course are really sorry.'
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) welcomed the French response.
Following the show on Friday night, religious groups expressed their condemnation of the ceremony, claiming it referenced the painting of Jesus Christ and his apostles.
Among them was the Catholic church in France, withthe Conference of French bishops releasing a statement saying:'This ceremony has unfortunately included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity, which we very deeply deplore.'
Paris 2024 Olympics communications director Anne Descamps apologised for any offence caused and insisted that the ceremony intended to 'celebrate community tolerance'
Aside from the controversy over the Last Supper references, torrential rain in Paris marred the opening ceremony with many spectators seen wearing ponchos and holding umbrellas
Rain over us: Team GB's team embraced the wet weather, with many opting not to bother with poncho to protect from the torrential showers
Additional critique came from further afield, with USCatholic Bishop Robert Barron sharing his thoughts via video.
In a clip about the performance, he said: 'I love the Olympics, so I turn on the opening ceremony of the Olympics. And what do I see now? It's in Paris, France, a city I love, I spent three years as a doctoral student there.
'I see this gross mockery of the last supper and I won't describe it any further.
'France felt evidently as it's trying to put its best cultural foot forward, that the right thing to do is to mock this very central moment in Christianity where Jesus at his last supper gives his body and blood in anticipation of the cross.'
He continued: 'It's presented through this gross or flippant mockery. France which used to be called the oldest daughter of the church.
'France has sent Catholic visionaries all over the world. France whose culture and I mean the honouring of the individual, in human rights and of freedom is grounded very much in Christianity.
'It [France] felt the right thing to do was to mock the Christian faith.
The Olympic Ceremony in Paris featured a performance from Lady Gaga, who sang in French on the banks of the Seine
The Eiffel Tower featured a lights show towards the end of the four-hour show
The Olympic cauldron is seen after being lit during the opening ceremony
'Now a question I would pose, and we all know the answer to it, would they ever have dared mock Islam in a similar way. Would they ever have dreamed mocking in this gross and public way, a scene from the Qu'ran. And as I say we all know the answer.
'What's interesting here is this deeply secularist, [post-modern society knows who its enemy is, they're naming them, and we should believe them, because this is who they are.
'But furthermore we Christians, Catholics, should not be sheepish. We should resist, we should make our voices heard.'
An unexpected source of criticism was Tesla and SpaceX owner Elon Musk, who claimed thatthe Last Supper depiction was 'extremely disrespectful to Christians', adding that:'Christianity has become toothless.'
Doll, real name Karl Sanchez, said it was a 'dream' to represent France, and told those who had 'their feathers ruffled seeing queerness on their screen: We ain't going anywhere' in an Instagram post.
During the segment of voguing and fashion walking with drag queens, the Greek god Dionysus - naked and painted in blue - took centre stage on a table with French actor Philippe Katerine, who was in the French films Sink Or Swim and Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life, playing the part.
The Olympics said the 'interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings'.
Some puzzled viewers were left confused and labelled the portrayal a 'smurf' on social media.
Mr Katerine dressed in a skintight blue bodysuit that left very little to the imagination, and was seen resting on a giant platter bedecked in fake fruits and other foods.
Right-wing French politician Marion Marechal wrote on X: 'To all the Christians of the world who are watching the #Paris2024 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.'
Her Italian counterpart, Matteo Salvini, added: 'Opening the Olympics by insulting billions of Christians in the world was really a very bad start, dear French. Sleazy.'
France, while proud of its rich Catholic heritage, also has a long tradition of secularism and anti-clericalism. Blasphemy is not only legal, but also considered by many as an essential pillar of freedom of speech in a democratic society.
'In France, people are free to love how they please, are free to love whoever they want, are free to believe or not believe,' Thomas Jolly, the ceremony's artistic director, told reporters on Saturday when asked about critics.
Some commentators said the controversy was just another example of 21st century culture wars turbocharged by a 24-hour news cycle and social media.
Friday night was saved by the return to the stage of Celine Dion, who performed beneath the Eiffel Tower and the Olympic rings
'Everyone has to take offence it seems,' David Aaronovitch, a BBC Radio 4 presenter said on X. 'Leonardo is one of the most famous images in the Western world and has been pastiched, parodied and altered tens of thousands of times.'
Elsewhere, the ceremony attracted praise for having Canadian singer Celine Dion triumphantly return to live performing for the first time since revealing her battle with stiff person syndrome (SPS).
As well as the controversy with the Last Supper depiction, Friday's Opening Ceremony saw almost 8,000 athletes soaked as the heavens opened and forced some spectators to leave early due to the deluge.
A horsewoman delivers the Olympic flag at the end of the opening ceremony, surrounded by flagbearers for all the competing nations
With critics branding the four-hour show as the 'worst ever', viewers reported poor audio caused by the near-torrential rain and even joked online that organisers needed to 'stop the boats'.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators watched 6,800 athletes covered in plastic ponchos attempted to keep spirits high as they travelled down the river Seine in a huge flotilla of 85 boats.
Performances from Lady Gaga and approximately 3,000 dancers, acrobats and actors were hard to hear over the sound of rain, with viewers slamming it as 'the worst Olympic opening ceremony in memory'.
Gaffes with country names, the mounting of the Olympic flag and bizarre scenes which saw a headless Marie Antoinette singing peppered the display.
And it wasn't just the performances during the ceremony which saw technical gaffes. As the long line of boats filled with athletes made its way down the Seine, an embarrassing moment saw South Korea labelled North Korea by the announcers.
As the South Korean delegation sailed down the Seine River in the French capital, they were introduced with the official name for North Korea: 'Republique populaire democratique de Coree' in French, then 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea' in English.
'We deeply apologise for the mistake that occurred when introducing the South Korean team during the broadcast of the opening ceremony,' the IOC said in a post on its official Korean-language X account.
The error sparked displeased reactions in South Korea, a global cultural and technological powerhouse that is technically still at war with the nuclear-armed and impoverished North.
South Korea's sports ministry said in a statement it 'expresses regret' over the 'announcement during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the South Korean delegation was introduced as the North Korean team'.
Second vice sports minister Jang Mi-ran, a 2008 Olympic weightlifting champion, has asked for a meeting with IOC chief Thomas Bach to discuss the matter, it added.
The sports ministry has also asked the foreign ministry to 'deliver a strong protest to the French side' over the issue, the statement said.
South Korea's National Olympic Committee plans to meet with the Paris Olympics Organising Committee and the IOC to voice their protest, request measures to prevent a recurrence, and send an official letter of protest under the name of the head of its delegation, the sports ministry said.
