Page 25 - Zenith2024

| 2) Global Issues | 25

Tesla’s Elon Musk, who referred to himself as a ‘cultural Christian’, wrote on his X account
that it was “a ridiculous performance to Christians” and that “Christianity was left out of its
lice”.
Bishop Robert Barron of the Catholic Church in the United States said, “This is a tremendous
mockery of the Last Supper”, and “that’s why France decided to mock a very important
moment of Christianity in order to emphasize the highest level of French culture.”
However, the unintended parody of the biblical scene, performed against the backdrop of
the River Seine, was actually intended to interpret Dionysus and raise awareness of “the
absurdity of violence between human beings”, organizers wrote on X. Some social media
commentators referred to it as a woke performance, while others said that “the host
wouldn’t have had the courage to ridicule Islam that way”.

Apart from the controversy, the opening ceremony ended on a hopeful note, unanimously
appreciated by spectators, with one of the evening's highlights. Céline Dion concluding Edith
Piaf's "Hymn to Love" from the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, letting the last words of the song
resonate in the Parisian night: "God reunites those who love each other."

Kim JuEun (1-4)
gimjueun08@gmail.com