U.S. tech company pulls Olympics ads over 'mockery of the Last Supper' at opening ceremony

A Mississippi-based telecoms and technology company swiftly pulled its advertising from the 2024 Olympics after drag queens apparently mocked the Last Supper during the opening ceremony.

C Spire's boycott of the Olympics came amid "outrage across the globe" over the drag-themed display, the New York Post reported.

"We were shocked by the mockery of the Last Supper during the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics. C Spire will be pulling our advertising from the Olympics," C Spire tweeted.

The outrage came after "three French drag queens and other ornately dressed dancers began the performance by standing in line at the base of the runway, which resembled a long table, in a scene that seemed to evoke Leonardo da Vinci’s 'The Last Supper.'"

The scene included "a bedazzled woman with a large silver headdress that resembled a halo as depicted in paintings of Jesus."

"C Spire is supportive of our athletes who have worked so hard to be a part of the Olympics," C Spire President and CEO Suzy Hays said.

"However, we will not be a part of the offensive and unacceptable mockery of the Last Supper, which is why we’re pulling our advertising from the Olympics."

"Our subject was not to be subversive," said Olympics artistic director Thomas Jolly in defense of the mock Last Supper. "We never wanted to be subversive. We wanted to talk about diversity. Diversity means being together."

Conservatives were unswayed by Jolly's defense.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves tweeted his support for the company's decision:

Conservative French politician and Catholic Marion Maréchal also tweeted her disapproval:

C Spire would not comment on "what form of advertisements were pulled or how much they forked over to be part of the quadrennial world event."