The ongoing fallout from the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony took a legal turn on Tuesday, with Barbara Butch, a DJ who performed at the show, saying she is filing complaints over a torrent of online threats.
In a letter posted to Butch’s Instagram account, her lawyer wrote that the DJ “has been threatened with death, torture and rape, and has also been the target of numerous antisemitic, homophobic, sexist and grossophobic insults.”
Although the ceremony’s artistic director, Thomas Jolly, has repeatedly said that he wasn’t inspired by The Last Supper, Christian and conservative critics interpreted part of the show, which featured Butch, as a mockery of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting showing Jesus Christ and his apostles.
Butch, who calls herself a “love activist”, wore a silver headdress that looked like a halo during her set. Drag artists, dancers and others flanked Butch.
French Catholic bishops and others were among those who said Christians had been hurt and offended by the show. Paris Olympics organisers have said there was “never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group” and that the intent was to “celebrate community tolerance”. Art experts have said the scene was, in fact, more reminiscent of paintings of Greek gods.
Jolly has said he saw the moment as a celebration of diversity, and the table on which Butch spun her tunes as a tribute to feasting and French gastronomy. “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.”
The statement from Butch’s lawyer, Audrey Msellati, said she is filing several complaints. Typically, French judicial authorities examine such complaints and determine whether to launch a formal police investigation. The statement said Butch has been “the target of an extremely violent campaign of cyber-harassment and defamation.”
In a statement of her own, also posted on Instagram, Butch said: “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.”
Msellati said legal complaints would be filed regardless of “whether committed by French nationals or foreigners and intends to prosecute anyone who tries to intimidate her in the future.”
Butch wrote that she “was extremely honored” to perform in Friday’s ceremony and “my heart is still full of joy.” She added: “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!”