Jodie Sweetin is shutting down criticism surrounding the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Full House alum defended one of the Opening Ceremony performances shortly after her former costar Candace Cameron Bure slammed the show for using drag performers to reference Leonardo Da Vinci’s religious painting The Last Supper and mocking “the Christian faith.”
“Tell me you don’t know about art or history,” Jodie wrote in a July 29 Instagram Story, “without TELLING me you don’t know about art or history.”
Alongside her message, the 42-year-old also shared a video by creator Walter Masterson, in which he explains that the July 26 show, which featured a cast of drag artists, dancers and performers dressed in Greek mythology costumes gathering on the Debilly Footbridge, was actually inspired by Dionysus, the ancient Greek god who represents “feasting, festivity and ritual theater.”
“The Olympics come from Ancient Greece,” Walter explained in the July 29 video. “French culture is also rooted in feasting, festivity and ritual theater.”
Jodie’s defense comes one day after Candace shared that she felt the performance “openly mocked God.”
“To watch such an incredible and wonderful event that’s going to take place over the next two weeks,” she said in a video shared to her Instagram July 28, “and to see the Opening Ceremonies completely blasphemed and mock[ed] the Christian faith with their interpretation of The Last Supper was disgusting.”
Candace added, “It makes me mad, but I’m more sad. Because I’m sad for souls.”
And though Candace said many people had tried to “correct” her on the meaning of the moment, the 48-year-old stood firm in her belief.
“I still don’t see how [Dionysus] relates to unifying the world through competitive sports and [is] acceptable for children to watch,” she wrote in the caption of her Instagram. “In any case, I’m not buying it.”
But Jodie isn’t the only one countering Candace’s claims. The Olympic Games also responded to the controversy, clarifying the inspiration behind the show.
Sharing a snapshot of the performers on the bridge, the Olympic Games wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) July 26, “The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings.”
