After appearing at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, DJ and activist Barbara Butch received a flood of backlash for her performance alongside drag artists and other queer performers.
Overall, conservative viewers claimed that the event mocked the scene depicted in The Last Supper — even though that segment of the opening ceremony was described as a tribute to an ancient Greek festival. Nonetheless, some people continued to attack Butch on social media… and things got so bad that she had to file a police report on certain violent threats.
Butch, against all odds, not only chose to keep things moving, but she also went on to do something truly iconic. On August 25, Butch was chosen to carry the Paralympic Torch during an official event, which meant even more representation of people in the LGBTQ+ community during these Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.
Reading and listening to so much negative criticism from outside voices can be stressful. But when was asked how she handled this situation in an interview with France Info, Butch replied (via The Daily Mail):
"I chose not to be afraid to exist in the public space. I know I represent France in the same way as anyone else. Justice will do its job and then we will tackle the international level."
We love to see someone succeed and fight back against the trolls of the world. We love ya, Barbara Butch!
