During the Olympic Games opening ceremony, a diva sang the famous song of the sans-culottes in a bloody tribute to the French Revolution, portraying Queen Marie-Antoinette holding her decapitated head.
And suddenly, from the blood-red windows of a revolutionary-looking Conciergerie, the place where Queen Marie-Antoinette was imprisoned during the French Revolution while the famous monument on the Île de la Cité was still a prison, the song of the sans-culottes resounded:
“Ah! it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine! The aristocrats at the lantern. Ah! It’ll be fine, it’ll be fine, it’ll be fine! The aristocrats will be hanged.”
This display of undeniable stage artistry sparked strong reactions from many spectators at the Olympic Games opening ceremony. The revolutionary song was sung by a diva disguised as Marie-Antoinette, carrying her own decapitated head, evoking revolutionary violence, particularly the double regicide in 1793.
“Somebody give her all the Olympic medals!” exclaimed one enthusiastic Internet user. “The weirdest thing I’ve ever seen,” commented another. The scene provoked diverse reactions.
Among French commentators, this graphic portrayal of the queen’s execution has already stirred controversy. “Not in the best taste,” remarked Olivier Babeau from the Sapiens Institute. “When did anyone think it was a good idea to glorify a beheading in the current context?” questioned Gabrielle Cluzel from Boulevard Voltaire.
Magistrate Charles Prats, an unsuccessful candidate in the legislative elections, criticized the celebration of death penalty abolition during the ceremony.
Despite this, the energy of the scene, accompanied by metal music from the band Gojira, had its supporters. CNN host Jake Tapper even declared that Marie Antoinette being beheaded was brazen.
Another observer pointed out the contrast between the treatment of Queen Elizabeth II at the London Olympics opening ceremony, with her escorted by James Bond, and the depiction of Marie-Antoinette: “Two contrasting views on monarchy,” he observed. That’s an understatement.
During the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, a controversial and shocking performance took place that left many spectators divided. In a dramatic reenactment of the French Revolution, a diva sang the famous song of the sans-culottes while portraying Queen Marie-Antoinette holding her decapitated head.
This bold and visually striking tableau was performed against the backdrop of a revolutionary-looking Conciergerie, where Marie-Antoinette was imprisoned during the French Revolution. The evocation of revolutionary violence, culminating in the double regicide of 1793, sparked mixed reactions from the audience.
The performance, which featured a diva disguised as Marie-Antoinette, provoked strong emotions from spectators, with some praising the stage virtuosity and others criticizing the graphic nature of the presentation. The scene, accompanied by the metal music of the group Gojira, captured the attention of viewers worldwide.
French columnists and commentators were quick to weigh in on the controversial performance, with some denouncing it as in poor taste and others celebrating its artistic daring. The evocation of Marie-Antoinette’s execution raised questions about the portrayal of historical events in a modern context.
Magistrate Charles Prats, a vocal critic of the performance, called into question the celebration of a beheading in a society that had abolished the death penalty. However, others, like CNN host Jake Tapper, praised the audacity of the presentation, dubbing Marie-Antoinette as a “bad girl” in a nod to American slang.
The contrast between the treatment of Queen Elizabeth II at the London Olympics, where she was accompanied by James Bond, and the depiction of Marie-Antoinette at the Paris Olympics, underscored differing views on monarchy and history.
Overall, the performance at the Olympic Games opening ceremony sparked a heated debate and showcased the power of art to provoke thought and discussion. Whether seen as a bold artistic statement or a tasteless spectacle, the reenactment of Marie-Antoinette’s execution left a lasting impression on viewers around the world.
