Rob Schneider’s decision to boycott the Olympics has sparked widespread commentary online.
The comedian announced his decision after the opening ceremony featured drag performers, stating he would no longer watch the event.
In a heated Twitter post, Schneider wrote: “I am sorry to say to ALL the world’s GREATEST ATHLETES, I wish you ALL THE BEST, but I cannot watch an Olympics that disrespects Christianity and openly celebrates Satan.”
The controversy stemmed from a segment in the opening ceremony that was widely misinterpreted as representing the Last Supper.
In reality, the performance depicted a Bacchanalian feast scene associated with Dionysus, the Ancient Greek god of wine.
Many people expressed similar sentiments in response to Schneider’s online outburst.
They noted that the Last Supper features 13 attendees, Jesus and his 12 disciples, unlike the 18 people in the performance.
Critics were quick to point out that Schneider himself has frequently appeared in drag throughout his career.
One example cited was the movie “The Hot Chick,” where Schneider portrays a small-time criminal who swaps bodies with a woman.
Others recalled instances where Schneider appeared on talk shows wearing a dress and a blonde wig.
One user commented: “Half of @RobSchneider’s career has been him in (sh*tty) drag… so I’m not sure why he’s suddenly taking issue with it. Is it because they’re better at it or because he’s not getting money from it anymore?”
Another joked: “What event was he supposed to be in?” while a third user shared a promotional image from “The Hot Chick” with the caption, “this you?”
Olympic organizers clarified that the performance in question was not a representation of the Last Supper but rather a scene from Ancient Greek mythology.
Dutch art historian Walther Schoonenberg supported this explanation, tweeting: “The tableau vivant or ‘living painting’ in the opening ceremony of Paris 2024 was of The Feast of the Gods, by Jan van Bijlert from 1635.”
He included an image of the referenced painting, which is housed in the Musée Magnin in France.
Thomas Jolly, the ceremony’s artistic director, told French news outlet BFM: “The idea was to do a big pagan party linked to the gods of Olympus. You’ll never find in my work any desire to mock or denigrate anyone. I wanted a ceremony that brings people together, that reconciles, but also a ceremony that affirms our Republican values of liberty, equality and fraternity.”