PARIS (AP) — A storm of anger Paris Olympics The opening ceremony, which included angry comments from President Donald Trump, faced legal developments on Tuesday, with a French prosecutor ordering police to investigate a complaint from a DJ and LGBTQ+ icon who performed.
DJ Barbara Bucci said she was hit with a torrent of online threats and abuse after her controversial scene at the Olympic opening ceremony. Bucci’s lawyer told The Associated Press that Bucci has filed a formal lawsuit alleging she has been subjected to online harassment, death threats and humiliation. Her lawyer, Audrey Muserati, said the lawsuit does not name any specific suspects.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed it had received Bucci’s complaint and said it had ordered an investigation by a police unit specialising in combating hate crimes. It said the police investigation would focus on “discriminatory messages sent to her or posted online on grounds of religion and sexual orientation.”
Ceremony Artistic Director Thomas Jolley He has repeatedly stated that he was not inspired by The Last Supper. Critics have interpreted parts of the show During the show, Butch appeared dressed as Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of Jesus Christ and the Apostles. The self-described “love activist” wore a silver headdress that resembled a halo as he got the party going in his segment of the show. Drag artists, dancers and others flanked him on either side.
US President Donald Trump said on Monday he thought it was “disgraceful”.
“I’m very open-minded,” the former president and current Republican candidate told Fox News host Laura Ingraham when asked specifically about the comparison to “The Last Supper,” “but I thought what they did was disgraceful.”
France’s Catholic bishops said the attack had hurt and offended Christians. The organizers of the Paris Olympics “There was no intention to show disrespect to any religious group” and that his goal was to “celebrate the community’s tolerance.”
Jolie saw the moment as a celebration of diversity and said the table where Butch performed was a feast and a tribute to French cuisine.
“My desire is not to be disruptive, nor to ridicule or shock,” Jolie said. “Above all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion, not to be divisive in any way.”
Cast: Philippe Catherine, In the next scene, The artist of the painting, which features a nearly nude figure painted in blue as a homage to Dionysus, also told Le Monde that “The Last Supper” was not used as a reference at all in preparing the overall sketch.
In her own statement posted to Instagram, Bucci said: “No matter what anyone says, I exist. I have never been ashamed of who I am and I take responsibility for everything, including my artistic choices. I have refused to be a victim my whole life and I will not be silenced.”
She said she was “very honored” to perform at Friday’s ceremony and that her “heart remains full of joy.”
“I am doing my best and I am proud. I am proud of who I am, what I am and what I represent, for my loved ones and for millions of French people. My France is France!” she wrote.
In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Musserati described Bucci as “competitive” and said she worked hard to defend herself and her choices and remains very proud of her participation. “She still has no regrets,” the lawyer said.
She said she receives hateful messages targeting Butch “almost every minute,” and that Jolie and the drag artists at the ceremony have also been targets of cyberbullying.
“We will stand united against this cyber harassment, which is anti-Semitic, homophobic, fatphobic and more,” she said.
Her lawyer said in an earlier statement that legal charges would be filed regardless of whether the person involved was a French national or a foreigner, and Bucci said she “will prosecute anyone who tries to blackmail her in the future.”
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Associated Press writers Nicolas Veau Montagny and Qui Yong Ha contributed to this report.
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For more information about the Paris Olympics, https://apnews.com/hub/2024-Paris-Olympic-Games.
