This weekend, the 2024 Paris Olympic Games officially kicked off with the opening ceremony. But it seems like one ESPN host was so offended by one portion of the opening ceremony that she is considered boycotting the Olympics altogether.
The opening ceremony from Paris included drag queens among other performers appearing to parody the iconic painting “The Last Supper,” a Reinassance art piece that depicts Jesus sharing a final meal with his disciples before his crucifixion.
That portion of the ceremony sparked outrage among Christians, who saw the parody as mocking Jesus and the Christian faith, and ESPN “Sunday NFL Countdown” host Sam Ponder seems to be among those offended.
Ponder was asked by a fan on Instagram if she is watching the Olympics this year. Ponder replied that she is reconsidering as a result of the opening ceremony.
“I love the Olympics but I’ll be honest that watching the Opening Ceremony with my kids last night made me reconsider,” she told her Instagram followers according to The Spun.
Ponder certainly wasn’t the only one who was offended by the opening ceremony over the weekend, but a spokesperson indicated that no offense was intended.
“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, via Reuters.
“We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense, we are really sorry.”
[The Spun]
