French police have launched an investigation into online threats and hate speech against Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the Olympics opening ceremony, following a complaint about death threats and insults targeting his sexual identity and “wrongly assumed Israeli roots.”
Paris prosecutors announced on Friday that Jolly filed a police complaint on Tuesday, four days after the ceremony. The complaint cited death threats, “public insults,” and “defamation.” According to the statement, Jolly has been “the target of threatening messages and insults on social networks criticizing his sexual orientation and his wrongly-assumed Israeli roots.” The Central Office for Combating Crimes Against Humanity and Hate Crimes is handling the investigation.
The controversy follows the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony, which sparked outrage, including criticism from Donald Trump, over a scene featuring drag queens and other performers. Although Jolly has consistently denied any inspiration from “The Last Supper,” some critics perceived the performance as mocking Leonardo Da Vinci’s iconic painting of Jesus Christ and his apostles.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo expressed her “unwavering support” for Jolly amid the threats and harassment. In a statement on Friday, Hidalgo praised Jolly’s work, stating, “With his opening ceremony, Jolly held our values high. It was a pride and an honor for Paris to be able to count on his talent to magnify our city and tell the world who we are.” She added, “Paris will always be on the side of artists, of creation, and therefore, on the side of freedom.”
Barbara Butch, a well-known DJ and LGBTQ+ icon who performed at the ceremony, has also reported a wave of online threats. She has filed a complaint for online abuse and harassment, which is also under police investigation.
