KUALA LUMPUR: Videos of the controversial opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympics have been removed from YouTube.
This decision comes in response to widespread criticism from right-wing figures and commentators worldwide over the ceremony, which took place on Saturday, July 27.
The footage and its highlights have been deleted from the official Olympics YouTube account and also from NBC Universal, the largest official Olympics broadcaster.
The opening ceremony included a unique parade of the world's athletic contingents down the River Seine and musical performances, including by French and international musicians such as heavy metal band Gojira, Lady Gaga, and Celine Dion.
Also included was a theatrical performance purportedly depicting Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the 'Last Supper.'
The act featured performers, including some drag artists, posing behind a long table, while French singer and actor Philippe Katerine, painted blue, sat atop the table surrounded by an assortment of fruits and flowers.
The performance drew criticism for allegedly mocking the iconic Renaissance artwork.
On Sunday (July 28), the French Bishops' Conference released a statement on social media calling it "scenes of mockery and derision of Christianity, which we deeply regret".
The Last Supper, the final meal Jesus shared with his apostles before his crucifixion, holds profound significance for many Christians due to its traditional importance and role as the foundation for various religious practices.
On the same day, the 2024 Paris Olympics spokesperson Anne Descamps offered an apology but defended the performance.
"On the contrary, I think that (artistic director Thomas Jolly) tried to celebrate community tolerance. We believe that this ambition was achieved."
Online reaction to the games' opening ceremony is heated, as users fight to point out the performance's actual reference: Greek gods.
"Not sure who needs to hear this but the opening ceremony at the Olympics was not a portrayal of the Last Supper.
"It was a portrayal of The Feast of Dionysus. And for those who don't know what that is, it might be time to learn some culture, history and about art", said user Jason Cook on X.
The Feast of Dionysius is a 17th-century Dutch painting depicting an Ancient Greek festival in honour of the Greek god Dionysus which involved, among others, theatrical performances.
US presidential nominee Donald Trump called the ceremony "a disgrace" while French far-right politician Marion Marechal stated that it was the work of a "left-wing minority ready for any provocation"
Locally, former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) and Federal Territories mufti, Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri also criticised the event, describing it as "insensitive".
"In an increasingly global and multi-religious world, it is surprising that there are still those who fail to grasp the basics of living harmoniously side by side", he said in a statement.
However, reports indicate that public sentiment in France perceived the ceremony differently.
According to The Guardian, Parisians themselves were enthusiastic and proud of the "joyful, contradictory, rather chaotic mess" that was the opening ceremony.
Many French nationals expressed that the surreal and unashamed nature of acts is a release after a tense election season rife with dangerous rhetoric that ended in a hung parliament.