A storm of outrage surrounding the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony took a legal turn on Tuesday as DJ Barbara Butch, who performed at the event, announced through her lawyer that she would be filing complaints over the severe threats and abuse she has received online. Butch, an LGBTQ+ icon, has received backlash following her performance, with threats of death, torture, and rape, alongside a slew of anti-Semitic, homophobic, sexist, and grossophobic insults.
Butch’s lawyer, Audrey Msellati, detailed these threats in a letter posted to the DJ’s Instagram account. The controversy stems from a segment of the opening ceremony, directed by Thomas Jolly, which some critics claimed mocked Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” During the performance, Butch was surrounded by drag artists and dancers, a scene that some French Catholic bishops and other critics felt disrespected Christian imagery.
In response to these accusations, Paris Olympics organizers emphasized that there was no intention to offend any religious group. They stated that the goal was to “celebrate community tolerance.” Jolly explained that the performance was meant to celebrate diversity and French gastronomy, with Butch’s DJ table symbolizing a feast.
Even though one performer was wearing a halo and was assembled like Da Vinci’s Last Supper. Butch also wrote on a social media post called the performance of the Gay New Testament.
Barbara Butch, the woman in the center, posted this photo to her instagram, admitting that this photo had everything to do with them mocking the scriptures.
She then deleted it a few hours later and called it “the feast of the Gods”.
Nope. Caught. pic.twitter.com/IhyREuYlU5
— Sarah Fields (@SarahisCensored) July 28, 2024
“My wish isn’t to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock,” Jolly said. “Most of all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide.”
Butch’s lawyer, Msellati, indicated that they would be filing several legal complaints.
In France, such complaints typically lead to judicial authorities deciding whether to launch a formal police investigation. Msellati’s statement highlighted that Butch has endured “an extremely violent campaign of cyber-harassment and defamation.”
In her own statement on Instagram, Butch expressed her resilience and pride. “Whatever some may say, I exist. I’ve never been ashamed of who I am, and I take responsibility for everything — including my artistic choices. All my life, I’ve refused to be a victim: I won’t shut up.”
Butch’s lawyer also noted that legal complaints would be pursued against any individuals, regardless of nationality, who attempt to intimidate her in the future. Butch remains steadfast and proud of her performance at the ceremony. “I was extremely honored to perform in Friday’s ceremony and my heart is still full of joy,” she stated. “I’m committed, and I’m proud. Proud of who I am, of what I am, and of what I embody, both for my loved ones and for millions of French people. My France is France!”
What are the odds that a lawsuit is going to be launched against Twitter, where this first went viral?
Barbara Butch is suing everyone who was rude!
That’s half of Twitter. pic.twitter.com/Gz5PFC29uF
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) July 30, 2024
