Paris Olympics Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Sports

During the opening ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympics last week, many people mistakingly believed that one portion of the festivities mocked the Christian faith, sparking widespread outrage. And it seems like one NASCAR driver was among those offended and concerned.

The mistake occurred when people believed that a collection of drag queens and other performers were parodying The Last Supper – a Renaissance painting by Leonardo da Vinci that shows the final meal that Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion. As a result of this confusion, many thought that the ceremony was making a mockery of Jesus and the Christian faith, and that included NASCAR driver Dean Thompson.

“Mockery. Absolutely awful. Praying for them,” Thompson said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.

As it turns out, Thompson’s outrage was misguided as the ceremony was not referencing The Last Supper at all. Instead, it was paying homage to the Festival of Dionysus, who is the Greek god of fertility, wine, and revelry.

“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. (The opening ceremony) tried to celebrate community tolerance,” Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps told reporters.

People were interested in these podcasts
Play Episode
66min
The Play-By-Play
Fox Sports lawsuit, WWE on Netflix, Jason Kelce's late night debut
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/playbyplay for 10% off your first month and get on your way to being your best self.Fox Sports is rocked with a sexual battery and discrimination lawsuit. "WWE Raw" makes its long-awaited debut on Netflix. Jason Kelce's late night show was a dud. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more with AA's Drew Lerner on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.Time Stamps:-1:02: Jerry Jones acting-2:56: Fox Sports lawsuit-26:46: “WWE Raw” Netflix debut-47:27: “They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce” debut-58:12: Amazon hires Dirk Nowitzki-1:00:15: Jalen Rose calling first NBC game-1:03:25: Amazon hires Blake GriffinYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!Download The Play-By-Play:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Play-By-Play
ESPN cancels 'Around the Horn,' Jake Fischer joins us
ESPN is pulling the plug on "Around the Horn" after nearly a quarter century on the air. Tom Brady continues his first year as a broadcaster. Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics and more, with guest Jake Fischer from The Stein Line, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.Time Stamps:-1:25: ESPN canceling “Around the Horn” in 2025-15:26: Jake Fischer comes on The Play-By-Play-48:38: Views From the Subreddit-59:28: Tom Brady on Fox-1:03:24: John Fanta on X SpacesYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!Download The Play-By-Play:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Play-By-Play
ESPN CFP takeaways, AA NFL announcer rankings overview
The first 12-team College Football Playoff is almost over. How did ESPN do? NFL head coaches are rarely traded so why does everyone in sports media want the Steelers to trade Mike Tomlin? Awful Announcing's Ben Axelrod and Brendon Kleen discuss these topics, and we discuss our NFL announcer rankings with AA's Andrew Bucholtz, on the latest episode of The Play-By-Play.Time Stamps:-1:54: ESPN College Football Playoff takeaways-22:28: AA’s NFL announcer rankings-43:19: Kyle Hamilton tidbit everyone is using-46:24: Tom Brady conflict of interest talk calling Lions playoff game-57:02: Mike Tomlin trade-1:01:26: Danny Goodwin-1:03:36: Pat McAfee’s Field Pass altcastYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review!Download The Play-By-Play:Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyAwful Announcing on XAwful Announcing on FacebookAwful Announcing on InstagramAwful Announcing on ThreadsAwful Announcing on BlueSkyAwful Announcing on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Play-By-Play
Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and Jason Kelce debut; Colt McCoy has rough broadcast
On the latest episode of The Play-By-Play, Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen and Ben Axelrod discuss the Fox broadcasting debut of Tom Brady, the ESPN debut of Jason Kelce, Bill Belichick's numerous appearances. The guys also discuss the changes on "The NFL Today," Greg Olsen's pivot to the No. 2 Fox NFL broadcast booth, and Colt McCoy's rough broadcast.Time Stamps:-1:47: Tom Brady broadcast booth review-18:51: Bill Belichick analysis review-28:19: Jason Kelce “Monday Night Countdown” review-33:52: “The NFL Today” getting younger-36:04: Praise for Mike Greenberg hosting “Sunday NFL Countdown”-38:14: Greg Olsen with Joe Davis as Fox’s No. 2 NFL booth-39:34: Colt McCoy-45:14: “Out of the Darkness”-53:09: ESPN/NFL Media equity talks are offYou can subscribe to The Play-By-Play wherever podcasts are found. Please subscribe, rate and review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense, we are really sorry.”

[Dean Thompson]