Olympic Performance Draws Church Criticism, Sponsor Pullout

C Spire Discontinues Advertising After 'Last Supper' Mockery

Updated: July 28, 2024 at 12:26 PM ET

A controversial performance during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday has ignited a backlash from religious groups and prompted one of the event's major sponsors to withdraw its support.

C Spire, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the United States, announced on Saturday that it had decided to pull all advertisements from the Paris Games after being offended by the depiction of the Last Supper during the ceremony.

The performance, which featured a group of dancers mimicking the iconic painting by Leonardo da Vinci, drew criticism from the Catholic Church and other religious organizations. The church called the performance "blasphemous" and "disrespectful."

In a statement, C Spire CEO Hu Meena said the company was "deeply troubled" by the performance. "We believe that the Olympic Games should be a celebration of human achievement and unity, not an occasion for religious mockery," Meena said.

The withdrawal of C Spire's advertising is a significant blow to the Paris Olympics, which is already facing criticism for its high costs and organizational challenges.

Organizers of the Games have apologized for the performance and said they are taking steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.