A tech company's decision to withdraw its advertising from the 2024 Paris Olympics has drawn attention following a controversial performance at the opening ceremonies. C Spire, a telecommunications and technology company based in Mississippi, announced on Saturday morning that it was cutting ties with the event.
The announcement came shortly after a performance featuring drag queens and dancers, which was perceived as a parody of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper."
"We were shocked by the mockery of the Last Supper during the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics. C Spire will be pulling our advertising from the Olympics," C Spire posted on X.
We were shocked by the mockery of the Last Supper during the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics. C Spire will be pulling our advertising from the Olympics.
— C Spire (@CSpire) July 27, 2024
The performance, which took place on the Debilyl Bridge with the Eiffel Tower and Seine River as a backdrop, began with three French drag queens and other performers standing at the base of a runway.
C Spire did not specify the nature of the advertisements they had intended to run during the Olympics, nor did they disclose the financial impact of their decision to pull out.
The company's decision appears to have been influenced by the negative reactions from various quarters who viewed the performance as disrespectful to religious iconography.
"C Spire is supportive of our athletes who have worked so hard to be a part of the Olympics," C Spire President and CEO Suzy Hays said in a statement
"However, we will not be a part of the offensive and unacceptable mockery of the Last Supper, which is why we're pulling our advertising from the Olympics."
Meanwhile, organizers of the Paris Olympics have apologized for any offense caused by a skit in the games' opening ceremony Friday that featured drag stars in what many viewers saw as a parody of Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous “The Last Supper" masterpiece, a similarity that drew the ire of Christians.
Forbes reports Anne Descamps, a spokesperson for the Paris games, told reporters on Sunday there was "never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group" and Thomas Jolly, creative director of the opening ceremony, instead hoped to "celebrate community tolerance," according to multiple news outlets.
She said the scene was generally well received but that organizers are "of course, really, really sorry" to anyone who was offended.
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