The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics was a high-voltage gala, bringing together cultures from across the world. However, some found a part of it –a segment that many interpreted as mocking Jesus Christ’s Last Supper–disrespectful. Barbara Butch, an LGBTQ activist and French DJ, was at the center of the Last Supper tableau.
The tableau depicts a modern interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, ‘The Last Supper’. It featured a long table with Butch at the centre and over 20 other performers, who were drag artists and dancers. Butch wore a silver headdress that looked like a halo.
The segment was slammed by religious conservatives and Christian leaders from around the world, and the Olympic organisers apologised, saying they meant no disrespect. At the same time, some saw it as a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and inclusivity.
The Last Supper is a significant event in Christian faith, described as the final meal shared by Jesus with his twelve apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion.
WHO IS BARBARA BUTCH?
Barbara Butch is a prominent figure in the LGBTQ+ community, renowned as both a DJ and an activist. She calls herself a “love activist” and has made significant strides in promoting diversity, inclusivity, and body positivity.
Sharing a snap from the Paris Olympics performance, she wrote on social media, “I’m a love activist, DJ, and producer based in Paris. My aim is to unite people, gather humans, and share love through music for all of us to dance and make our hearts beat in unison! Music sounds better with all of us!”
Butch began her career by playing at bars and parties in Montpellier, France, initially under the pseudonym “Scratcheuse de gazon.” She later moved to Paris and gained recognition for her performances at venues like Rosa Bonheur and the Machine du Moulin Rouge.
Beyond her musical career, she is a lesbian activist. She has been particularly outspoken about fat acceptance and has used her platform to challenge traditional beauty standards.
Her contributions to the community have earned her the Out d’or 2021 award for ‘LGBTI personality of the year’ from the French Association of LGBTI Journalists.
The artist has also appeared on the cover of Telerama magazine, posing nude to raise awareness about body positivity. She has also become the face of Jean Paul Gaultier’s perfume La Belle Intense.
Butch grew up in a traditional Jewish family, and her mother was associated with Ashkenazi Jews, a community of Jews in Europe.
Tune In