Katerine Defends Olympics Parody Performance

French performer Philippe Katerine, known as the 'semi-naked blue guy,' has defended his controversial appearance as Dionysus in the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony. The performance faced backlash, particularly from Christian groups and some U.S. conservative figures, who viewed it as a blasphemous parody of Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper.' Katerine clarified that the performance aimed to symbolize peace and the origins of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, where athletes competed naked to represent harmlessness. Despite the criticism, Katerine expressed pride in his role, emphasizing the importance of diversity and freedom of expression. Olympic organizers and the ceremony's director denied any intention to mock Christianity and apologized for any offense caused.