Paris prosecutors announced on Friday that an investigation into hate speech has been initiated following a complaint from Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the Olympics opening ceremony, regarding death threats he received.
According to a statement from the Paris prosecutors’ office, Jolly lodged his police complaint on Tuesday, just four days after the ceremony, citing death threats, “public insults,” and “defamation.”
The statement indicated that Jolly has faced “threatening messages and insults on social media” targeting his sexual orientation and his inaccurately presumed Israeli heritage. The investigation has been assigned to France’s Central Office for Combating Crimes Against Humanity and Hate Crimes.
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Jolly’s complaint follows significant backlash after the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, which included a controversial segment featuring drag queens and other performers, drawing criticism from figures such as Donald Trump. Despite Jolly’s assertions that he was not influenced by “The Last Supper,” some critics perceived elements of the performance as a parody of Leonardo Da Vinci’s iconic depiction of Jesus and his apostles.
Additionally, Barbara Butch, a well-known DJ and LGBTQ+ figure who participated in the event, reported experiencing a wave of online threats. She has also filed a complaint regarding online abuse and harassment, which is currently under police investigation.
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