A right-wing legal activist group filed a formal complaint over the broadcast of the Olympics opening ceremony.
The ceremony broadcast live from Paris paid tribute to several famed works of art, and many conservatives complained that one scene appeared to mock Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper" with drag queens and dancers. Judicial Watch filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission.
"NBC and its various stations/outlets on TV, cable and Internet carried (and continues to make available) the Olympics Opening Ceremony on July 26, which included an adult male purposefully exposing (himself) in the presence of a child/children," said Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton. "This content is both obscene and indecent and, to make matters worse, was aired during viewing hours when it was likely seen by millions of children and minors."
A spokeswoman for the Olympics apologized for offending some viewers, but the ceremony's artistic director denied the tableau was intended to evoke "The Last Supper" and insisted it was inspired by artworks depicting Dionysus, the Greek god of wine.
“It was pretty clear It is Dionysus who arrives at the table," said artistic director Thomas Jolly. "Why is he there? Because Dionysus is the Greek god of festivities (…) and wine, and is the father of Sequana, the goddess of the Seine river."
Fitton's outfit, which is aligned with former President Donald Trump, argued that the "obscene/indecent content" mocked Jesus Christ, violated federal law banning such content from being broadcast on radio or TV and was not protected under the First Amendment.
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“The blasphemous Olympics’ Opening Ceremony which included, among other obscene and indecent acts, a man partially exposing himself around children, is patently offensive for any sensible American and requires immediate FCC action against NBC," Fitton said.
“The Justice Department should also launch an investigation, especially given the use of children in this obscene and indecent NBC broadcast.”
