HomeSportRob Schneider says he’s boycotting the Olympics over Opening Ceremony, issues apology to athletes
Rob Schneider says he’s boycotting the Olympics over Opening Ceremony, issues apology to athletes
July 30, 2024
The highly-anticipated event kicked off on Friday with the Opening Ceremony in the French capital.
However, amid the 6,800 athletes being ferried down the River Seine, several segments and performances aimed to celebrate French (and Western European) culture. Read More
From a heavy metal performance recreating Marie Antoinette’s beheading to French musician, Phillippe Katerine dressing as Greek God Dionysus while lounging on a table lined with drag queens.
Credit: BBC
Then there was the supposed ménage à trois between three individuals representing the French motto of liberté, égalité, fraternité (or liberty, equality, fraternity).
However, the Opening Ceremony and its organizers faced a huge backlash after some people branded it “satanic”, “blasphemous”, and an “attack on Christianity”.
Influential figures like Donald Trump Jr. and Andrew Tate are just some notable individuals who have spoken out about the Opening Ceremony, and now actor Rob Schneider has done the same.
Taking to X on Monday, the 60-year-old actor and comedian tweeted: “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.
“I sincerely hope these @Olympics get the same number of viewers as @cspan.”
Then, attempting to make an edgy joke, the Deuce Bigalow star added: “Guys with their genitalia hanging out in front of children?! Drag Queens?! I wasn’t sure if I was watching the @Olympics or if I was watching a school board meeting.”
Of course, Schneider isn’t the only person to bash the Paris Games.
Following the backlash, Paris 2024 spokeswoman Anne Descamps has spoken out and issued an apology to anybody who was offended.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday (July 28), Descamps said: “Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group.”
“If people have taken any offense, we are of course really, really sorry,” Descamps added, per News.com.au.
Thomas Jolly, lead choreographer of the ceremony, has also spoken out and responded to criticism that Katerine’s segment was intended to mock Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, which depicts Jesus with the Twelve Apostles.
The opening ceremony. Credit: Christian Liewig – Corbis/Getty
Jolly has confirmed that his intention was never to mirror the famous painting, telling the BFM channel on Sunday: “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, reconciles, and affirms our Republican values of liberty, equality, and fraternity,” Jolly added.
