French actor-cum-singer Philippe Katerine performs during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (Image: AFP)
Actor Phillip Katerine defended his act in the Olympic opening ceremony and said the performance was a tribute to Dionysus.
French actor Philippe Katerine, who appeared on a silver serving dish, almost naked and painted blue, defended his performance and said his appearance was representing athletes of Olympic Games of ancient Greece who used to participate in the Games naked.
He also said that a naked human presents an idea of ‘harmlessness’ while speaking to broadcaster CNN.
“Would there have been wars if we’d stayed naked? The answer is perhaps not because you can’t hide a gun or a dagger when you’re naked,” Katerine said.
“So you’ve got this idea of harmlessness when it comes to the naked man. And the idea of the origins of the Olympic Games in Greece, which are represented today because when you see paintings, they’re of naked athletes too, also with the idea that they can’t carry weapons when they’re naked,” Katerine further added while speaking to the US-based broadcaster.
What he referred to above was also part of the lyrics he sang during the opening ceremony where he first appeared reclining on a crown of fruit and flowers, practically naked and painted blue.
“Where to hide a revolver when you’re completely naked?” he sang, pointing down to his groin. “I know where you’re thinking. But that’s not a good idea.”
“No more rich and poor when you go back to being naked. Yes,” Katerine continued.
He was meant to be Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and pleasure, who was father of Sequana, the goddess of the River Seine and his scene intended to
The mastermind of the ambitious Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Sunday rejected criticism his boundary-breaking show had gone too far, saying it had created a “cloud of tolerance” and denying any reference to the Last Supper that angered the Church.
Some Catholic groups and French bishops have condemned what they saw as “scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity” in Friday’s parade choreographed by Thomas Jolly, a leading theatre director.
