US tech company pulls Olympics ads after opening ceremony ‘mockery of the Last Supper’
SUMMARY
A Mississippi-based tech company, C Spire, swiftly withdrew its Olympic advertising after the 2024 Paris opening ceremony featured a controversial performance. The show included drag queens and dancers in a scene resembling Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” which many saw as offensive. C Spire announced their decision on social media, voicing their shock and labeling the act a mockery. CEO Suzy Hays emphasized support for athletes but condemned the performance as unacceptable. Artistic director Thomas Jolly defended the act as a celebration of diversity and artistic freedom. Despite his explanation, the event drew significant backlash from religious conservatives, including critical comments from Marion Maréchal and Hungary’s ambassador to the Vatican, Eduard Habsburg. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves praised C Spire’s decision, calling it a stand against disrespect.
