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Organizers of the Paris Olympics apologized for what some described as a mockery of the Last Supper at the games’ opening ceremony on Friday.

The scene featured drag artists and dancers. Barbara Butch, a DJ and producer and a LGBTQ+ icon wore a silver halo as she enlivened the scene at the footbridge across the Seine, as athletes paraded by. The drag artists and dancers flanked her in a skit that likened the  Last Supper as Jesus sat with his twelve disciples.

The Catholic church and Christian groups criticized the depiction and the French Catholic Church called it a “mockery of Christianity.”

Anne Descamps, a spokesperson for the Paris games said, “There was clearly never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group.

“On the contrary, I think we tried to celebrate community, tolerance. We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense, we’re of course really sorry.”

Thomas Jolly, creative director of the opening ceremony, insisted it was to “celebrate community tolerance.”

Jolly 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– an “interpretation of the Greek God [of wine and festivity] Dionysus.”

“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.”

Nearly 10,500 athletes from around the world arrived in Paris in top fashion for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, which opened with a spectacular show. Unlike before, they sailed in a flotilla of boats on the Seine River as flagbearers from competing nations queued at the foot of the Eiffel Tower for a rendition of the Olympic anthem, the raising of the Olympic flag, and the lighting of the cauldron.

President of the Paris 2024 committee Tony Estanguet, praised the athletes for their dedication. “Dear athletes, we can’t wait to live it all with you,” Estanguet said. “The joy, the tears, and the love that you will put in each moment. Thank you so much for being here. You made it. Bravo. I know what it means. I know what it took. I know the paths you have followed to be here.”

Céline Dion performed “Hymne A L’Amour,” a famous song by the legendary French singer Édith Piaf.

Day One

Gold Medalists, Jack Alexy, Chris Guiliano, Hunter Armstrong and Caeleb Dressel of Team USA pose with their medals during the medal ceremony after the Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay Final on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on July 27, 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, Torri Huske and Simone Manuel of Team United States celebrate after winning silver in the Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay Final on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on July 27, 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Switzerland’s Pauline Brunner (L) competes against US’ Hadley Husisian in the women’s epee individual round of 32 bout during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Grand Palais in Paris, on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

Australia’s Joshua Katz and Italy’s Andrea Carlino (Blue) compete in the judo men’s -60kg round of 32 round bout of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Champ-de-Mars Arena, in Paris on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)

Day Two

American Haley Batten celebrates as she crosses the finish line at the women’s cross-country cycling race of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at the Colline d’Elancourt climb near Paris, France on Sunday 28 July 2024. The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad are taking place in Paris from 26 July to 11 August. The Belgian delegation counts 165 athletes competing in 21 sports. (Photo by LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

US’ Simone Biles competes in the balance beam event of the artistic gymnastics women’s qualification during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 28, 2024. (Photo by Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)