The Summer Olympic Games in Paris are well underway, but not without a healthy dose of controversy right from the start, owing to opening ceremony performances slammed for what many viewed as a mockery of the Last Supper and Christianity more broadly.

Incredibly, the widely panned showcase did draw praise from someone who claims to be a devout believer, none other than first lady Jill Biden, who admitted that she found the evening's events to be “spectacular,” as Fox News reports.

Ceremony draws first lady's raves

Despite the recent political and familial upheaval back at home and her husband's shock withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, Mrs. Biden kept her prior commitment to lead the American delegation to the Olympics in France.

Amid initial difficulties that included rainstorms, an attack on the local transit system, and more, the ceremony kicked off in highly unusual, some might say unorthodox style.

Among the most contentious parts of the program was an interpretation of Leonardo DaVinci's masterwork the Last Supper, but this time, featuring drag queens and nearly naked performers.

Despite the bizarre -- and arguably offensive -- imagery, Mrs. Biden seemingly came away favorably impressed.

“So, last night, it was just spectacular. The rain did not dampen our spirits.... Every step of the way, I was thinking to myself, oh my god, oh my god. How are we going to top this,” the first lady expressed in a statement that referenced the 2028 games, set to be held in Los Angeles.

Contrary reactions pour in

The opinion voiced by Mrs. Biden was countered by a long list of notable figures, however, with many slamming what they suggested was a religious and cultural attack of the sort that would never be directed at other faiths, particularly Islam.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was among the critics, saying, “Last night's mockery of the Last Supper was shocking and insulting to Christian people around the world who watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.”

“The war on our faith and traditional values knows no bounds today. But we know that truth and virtue will always prevail,” Johnson added.

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini joined Johnson in blasting what occurred, writing, Opening the Olympics by insulting billions of Christians around the world was a really bad start, dear French. Seedy.”

Actress Candace Cameron Bure also lamented the show's impact on the Olympics as a whole, as Today noted, saying that “to watch such an incredible and wonderful event that's going to take place over the next two weeks, and see the opening ceremony completely blaspheme and mock the Christian faith with their interpretation of the Last Supper was disgusting.”

Actions, not just words

Actor and comedian Rob Schneider revealed that the ceremony's content was simply a bridge too far for him, and that he would no longer watch the games, writing on X, as Newsweek noted, “I am sorry to say to ALL the world's GREATEST ATHLETES, I wish you ALL THE BEST, but I cannot watch an Olympics that disrespects Christianity and openly celebrates Satan. I sincerely hope THESE @Olympics get the same amount of viewers as @cspan.”

Going even further than a viewing boycott was tech firm C Spire, which pulled its Olympics advertising altogether due to what company leaders described as “the mockery of the Last Supper,” with the firm clearly finding the show to be far less “spectacular” than the nation's own first lady.