Scene from “The Last Supper”: DJ files police complaint after death threats

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French DJ and activist Barbara Butch said on Monday she had filed several reports with police after receiving death threats over her participation in an Olympic Games opening ceremony tableau that drew comparisons to Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.”

The scene, which featured drag queens and other members of the LGBTQ community, was the subject of strong reactions from the Catholic Church as well as prominent conservative figures such as Rob Schneider and Candace Cameron Bure. Olympic artistic director Thomas Jolly told French broadcaster BFMTV over the weekend that the segment was not inspired by “The Last Supper” but was rather an homage to Greek mythology – yet it continues to cause controversy.

Butch made the announcement on her Instagram account on Monday evening, posting a statement from her attorney, Audrey Msellati, who said Butch had been “the target of an extremely violent campaign of cyber harassment and defamation.”

Msellati continued: “She has been threatened with death, torture and rape and has also been the target of numerous anti-Semitic, homophobic, sexist and grossly hostile insults. Barbara Butch condemns this vile hatred directed against her, against what she represents and what she stands for. She is today filing several complaints against these acts, whether committed by French or foreign nationals, and intends to prosecute anyone who tries to intimidate her in the future.”

During the opening ceremony, Butch stood in the center of the table and DJed. She wore a silver headpiece and a blue dress. In an Instagram post, Butch described her look as that of an “Olympic music goddess.”

Olympic organizers apologized for any misrepresentation during a press conference following the ceremony. Spokeswoman Anne Descamps said: “There was clearly never any intention to be disrespectful to any religious group… If anyone felt offended, we are sincerely sorry.”

The Paris prosecutor’s office and representatives of the Paris Olympic Games did not immediately respond to diversityPlease leave a comment.