EXCLUSIVERepublicans demand the Olympics make drastic changes after 'vulgar mockery' of the Last Supper at the 2024 opening ceremony
Republicans are furious at the Olympics's 'anti-Christian bigotry' displayed in the Paris competition's opening ceremony, saying it was a 'vulgar mockery' of Jesus and his billions of followers.
The 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony sparked outrage by Christians after Leonardo Da Vinci's world-renowned religious The Last Supper painting was warped into a drag queen display.
The famous biblical scene of Jesus Christ and his twelve apostles sharing a final meal before the crucifixion were replaced by transgender figures creating a 'woke' parody of the sacred scene.
Olympics organizers have since been forced to apologize after former President Donald Trump and other top religious conservatives decried the segment.
The ceremonies also featured DJ and producer Barbara Butch — an LGBTQ+ icon — flanked by drag artists and dancers. One backup dancer appeared to have his genitals exposed during the ceremony.
Now, over two dozen Republicans are demanding the Olympic's charter be rewritten to 'ensure that no faiths are the subject of mockery' after the dreadful diversity display, according to a letter exclusively obtained by Daily Mail.
The artistic imitation of the Last Supper, which also included a group of drag queens and a transgender model, has caused offense among some Christians for making a 'mockery' of the religion
'We write in response to the vulgar mockery of the Christian faith on display at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024,' the Republicans write to the International Olympic Committee's President Thomas Bach.
'There is no place for anti-Christian bigotry at an event designed to bring the world together,' the lawmakers say. 'The Games should celebrate the athletes, not denigrate anyone's faith.'
'The Games should unite people of every country, race, and creed.'
Then the conservatives posed a question to the game's president.
'How can we say we are in solidarity while bigotry and derision are part of the opening ceremonies?'
The letter was led by Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., and included many other GOP senators, including: Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Roger Marshall, R-Kan., Bill Cassidy, R-La., Thom Tillis, R-N.C., Steve Daines, R-Mont., James Risch, R-Idaho, Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., John Barrasso, R-S.C., and Katie Britt, R-Ala., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Todd Young, R-Ind., Ted Budd, R-N.C., Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., and Tim Scott, R-S.C.
The memo was also signed by numerous House Republicans: Reps: Erin Houchin, R-Ind., Tim Walberg, R-Mich., Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., Ralph Norman, R-S.C., Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn., Brian Babin, R-Texas, Mary Miller, R-Ill., Clay Higgins, R-La., John Rose, R-Tenn., Bob Good, R-Va., Michael Burgess, R-Texas, and Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., Robert Aderholt, R-Ala.
The artistic Christian display caused such a commotion for the International Olympic Committee that they were quick to issue a clarification on the last supper scene following Friday's opening ceremony.
DJ Barbara Butch was at the center of a controversial performance during the Paris 2024 opening ceremony
Butch is popular in the LGBT community, possibly leading to her selection as Jesus in the ceremonies opening
'Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group,' Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps told reporters Sunday.
'If people have taken any offense we are, of course, really, really sorry,' she added.
Members of the GOP note in the letter how there are over 2.5 billion Christians worldwide and that the Olympic Committee's explanation behind the religion-inspired performance was hollow.
'The father of the modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin, once said: 'May joy and good fellowship reign, and in this manner, may the Olympic Torch pursue its way through ages, increasing friendly understanding among nations, for the good of a humanity always more enthusiastic, more courageous and more pure,'' the letter continued.
'The International Olympic Committee (IOC) should formally condemn the mockery that occurred in Paris of one of the most sacred moments of the Christian faith.'
'Then, the IOC should make formal changes to ensure this kind of divisive display is not repeated to ensure that Coubertin's vision for the Games may continue to thrive.'
'Every person, from every nation and every faith, should be encouraged to enjoy the Olympics without being belittled or mocked,' the letter concluded.
