Barbara Butch — who performed in a controversial Olympic Opening Ceremony segment accused of mocking Christianity — has received death, torture, and rape threats as well as numerous anti-semitic, homophobic, sexist, and fatphobic insults for her involvement. Butch has pledged to fearlessly fight the threats. Her lawyer has filed legal complaints that could start a formal police investigation into those behind them.
During her part of the ceremonies, Butch wore a silver headdress that looked like a halo, and was surrounded by drag performers, dancers, and other performers as she DJed. The performers then walked on the runway, showcasing French fashions and style. Tthe scene was angrily mistaken by many conservative Christians as a mockery of The Last Supper, a famous artwork painted by gay artist Leonardo DaVinci that has been replicated countless times in modern pop culture.
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Butch’s lawyer Audrey Msellati filed a formal legal complaint with the Paris prosecutor’s office, which will decide whether or not to initiate a formal police investigation. The possible charges include cyber-harassment, death threats, and insults, but do not name a specific perpetrator.
The lawyer said, in a statement posted to Butch’s Instagram account, that legal complaints would be filed against perpetrators regardless of “whether committed by French nationals or foreigners and intends to prosecute anyone who tries to intimidate her in the future.”
Olympic officials have repeatedly stated that the performance was not a recreation of The Last Supper but was actually a tableau of a Dionysian feast. Thomas Jolly, the artistic director for the opening ceremonies, said, “My wish isn’t to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock. Most of all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide.”
Jolly said he hoped for the performance to be a tribute to diversity, and that the runway-table during the segment was intended a “tribute to feasting and French gastronomy.”
Butch posted a statement on Instagram announcing her legal action.
“I’m the target of yet another—particularly violent—cyber-harassment,” she wrote. “Although at first I decided not to speak out to let the haters cool down, the messages I receive are increasingly extreme. All because I’ve had the honor of representing my country’s diversity through art and music, alongside other artists and performers I admire.”
“I’ve never been ashamed of who I am, and I take responsibility for everything, including my artistic choices,” she continued. “All my life, I’ve refused to be a victim. I won’t shut up. I’m not afraid of those who hide behind a screen or sit in and dispute, their hatreds and frustrations. I will fight them without ever trembling. I’m committed, and I am proud. I’m proud of who I am, of what I am, and, of what I embody for both my loved ones, and for millions of French people. My France is France.”
Nevertheless, Butch said she was still “extremely honored” to be a part of the Paris 2024 opening ceremony.
“My commitment has always been to make everyone dance, and in my own small way to make a nation on the dancefloor. Through my DJ work and my activism, I’ve always promoted love and inclusivity – for me, this is what will save the world, even when it’s falling apart,” she wrote.
