US Tech Giant Withdraws Ads Over Last Supper Act at Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony
Image Credits: Hindustan Times
One of the biggest tech firms in the USA, C Spire, pulled down its ads after the Last Supper Act at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics last Saturday. The withdrawal of ads took place when, at the opening ceremony of the Olympics, a performance by singers was found to be offensive and blasphemous by viewers.
The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on July 26 happened unusually on open citywide streets. The opening was unconventional because it had previously occurred in large stadiums with formal settings. At the opening ceremony, athletes and players were seen moving down the Seine River and ending at the backdrop of the tallest tower in the world, namely the Eiffel Tower of Paris. The beautiful performances of Lady Gaga and Celine Dion added to the charm of the Olympic ceremony. However, in the opening ceremony, viewers found a particular part of the ceremony insulting to the Christian community.
Implications of Controversy–
After the controversial opening ceremony, a particular section of viewers found a part that insulted the Christian community. C Spire, an American tech firm, announced on its Twitter handle that it has withdrawn all its advertisements for the Paris Olympics. The decision to pull down the advertisements was taken after the opening ceremony’s mockery of the Christian faith by the performers on stage, as added by C Spire on their Twitter account. Further, they said, “We were shocked by the mockery of the Last Supper during the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics,” C Spire wrote on X. The firm “will be pulling our advertising from the Olympics.”
The Controversial Opening Ceremony–
This incident went viral on the internet all day and was criticized by netizens. Moreover, some viewers found the act involving small kids hyper-sexualized, and others saw it as a mockery of the Christian faith, resembling Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the Last Supper. However, not everyone was dissatisfied with the performance. Some found it very encouraging for the LGBTQ community.
What Do Organizers Have to Say?
The Artistic Director of the Paris opening ceremony, Thomas Colley, in briefings to the media, said that they never intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments. The actual idea was ‘inclusion.’ “Naturally, when we want to include everyone and not exclude anyone, questions are raised,” Colley remarked, as per FOX News.
The CEO of C Spire also commented on the withdrawal of ads for the Paris Olympics later and said, “C Spire is supportive of our athletes who have worked so hard to be a part of the Olympics.” She continued, “however, that they will not be a part of the offensive and unacceptable mockery of the Last Supper, which is why they are pulling their advertising from the Olympics,” as per NY Times.
The Olympics is the largest sporting event in the world, having its charm, craze, and excitement among people worldwide.
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- Muzafar Hamid, a resident of Srinagar, Kashmir, India, holds a master's degree in journalism and is currently undertaking a PhD program at the University of Kashmir. His academic pursuits and professional interests revolve around politics, sports, education, food, tourism, entertainment, and international events. Alongside his studies, Muzafar enjoys cricket and singing, finding fulfillment in a diverse range of activities.
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