News
Drag Queens Shine At Olympics Opening, But ‘Last Supper’ Tableau Draws Criticism
PARIS — Drag queens took center stage at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, demonstrating the lively and prominent role of the French LGBTQ+ community — while also drawing criticism for a tableau evocative of “The Last Supper.”
The stunning four-hour concert took place along the Seine River and featured global singers such as Celine Dion and Lady Gaga, who are regarded as LGBT icons. The event combined historic and modern French culture with a touch of kitsch, ending with a flotilla of boats transporting thousands of Olympians.
Drag Queens Shine At Olympics Opening, But ‘Last Supper’ Tableau Draws Criticism
Nicky Doll, who was on the 12th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and hosts “Drag Race France,” took part in a high-octane fashion runway segment alongside “Drag Race France” Season 1 winner Paloma, Piche from Season 3, and Giselle Palmer. Initially, they stood along the runway, staring intently at the strutting models. They later joined in, demonstrating their style.
Le Filip, the recent winner of “Drag Race France,” expressed “surprise” and “pride” in the ceremony’s size and representation.
“I assumed it would be a five-minute drag show with LGBT representation. I was amazed. “It began with Lady Gaga, followed by drag queens, a massive rave, and a fire in the sky,” they explained. “It was like getting crowned all over again. I’m proud to see my friends and LGBT folks on the global stage.”
Among their daring performances was a tableau that appeared to be inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” with the drag queens and other performers arranged in the form of Jesus Christ and his apostles. This section received a lot of attention—and different emotions.
“The French government understands what it is doing. They aim to present themselves in the best possible way. “They showed no restraint in their expression,” Le Filip told The Associated Press.
Drag Queens Shine At Olympics Opening, But ‘Last Supper’ Tableau Draws Criticism
On the other hand, prominent far-right lawmaker Marion Maréchal criticised the performance on social media.
“To all the Christians of the world who are watching the Paris 2024 ceremony and felt insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not France that is speaking, but a left-wing minority ready for any provocation,” she wrote on the social media platform X, a sentiment shared by religious conservatives around the world.
“… because decapitating Habsburgs and ridiculing central Christian events are really the FIRST two things that come to mind when you think of #OlympicGames,” Eduard Habsburg, Hungary’s envoy to the Vatican, wrote on X, referring to a scene depicting Marie Antoinette’s beheading.
Thomas Jolly, the opening ceremony’s artistic director, later clarified that the references to “The Last Supper” were not his goal.
Le Filip responded to criticism of the scene with humour and sadness.
“It feels like the remarks of someone who didn’t make the guest list. We could all laugh together. “It’s sad to me,” they said.
Inter-LGBT President James Leperlier was more cautious, stating that France still needs to make substantial progress towards inclusivity.
“We know that the LGBTQ community in France differs from what the ceremony depicted. There is great progress to be made in society about transgender persons. “It’s terrible that they have to go on trial to legally change their identity,” Leperlier stated.
He also emphasised the gap in acceptance, claiming that the community is not seen in other official ceremonies and “has difficulty being heard.”
“If you watched the opening ceremony last night, you would think it was normal, but it is not. “France attempted to demonstrate what it should be, not what it is,” he stated.
Drag Queens Shine At Olympics Opening, But ‘Last Supper’ Tableau Draws Criticism
The opening ceremony featured drag, and the voguing nightlife scene in France has seen a comeback. Madame Arthur, a cabaret club established in 1946 after World War II, is one of the world’s longest-continuously operating LGBTQ+ theatres. It debuted as Europe was only beginning to comprehend the scope of the widespread slaughter of members of the LGBT community during WWII and is currently undergoing a tremendous rebirth.
Drag is more than simply a sport; for many minority French populations who feel isolated as a result of contentious politics and the scars left by anti-gay marriage riots a decade ago, it is a resistance statement. Many LGBT Black and Arab adolescents, particularly those from Paris’ less affluent and religiously conservative suburbs, as well as others who feel disconnected from French society, find voguing and drag events to be safe spaces where they can express themselves without fear of repercussions.
Despite the outcry, Le Filip believes the opening ceremony will eventually transcend controversy.
They told me, “The message of the show is freedom, and it’s a good postcard for France.”
SOURCE | AP
News
Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.
Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”
The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”
Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.
Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.
The Prime Minister dances.
This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.
Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf
— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024
“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”
“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.
On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”
Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.
Pro-Palestinian protests
Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.
Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.
Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.
On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.
Related News:
Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO
News
Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla
The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.
The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.
The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.
“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”
According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.
Calgary Zoo Questioned
It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.
An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.
Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.
“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.
The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.
“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.
“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.
While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”
Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.
The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.
Related News:
Beluga Whales Dies at Canada’s Marineland
Outrage Erupts After 17th Beluga Whale Dies at Canada’s Marineland
News
Canada’s Lotto Max jackpot Climbs to $80M
Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.
Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.
The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.
According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.
While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.
Lotto Max History
Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.
The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.
Let’s have a look at the rules:
- Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
- Numbers cannot be repeated
- Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
- Each play buys 3 lines
- Each play costs $5
Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)
-
Politics2 weeks ago
Trudeau Orders Facebook to Block Australian Presser Video
-
Business4 weeks ago
Canada CBC News CEO Catherine Tait Recalled to Parliamentary Committee
-
Celebrity4 weeks ago
Shaun White’s Proposal To Nina Dobrev Was Romantic Gold
-
Tech4 weeks ago
Apple Launches The IPhone Into The AI Era With Free Software Update
-
News3 weeks ago
Pro-Khalistanis Sikhs Attack Hindu Temple in Brampton
-
Food4 weeks ago
Starbucks Is Making A Popular Add-On Free Of Charge