The Paris 2024 organizers firmly defended the Olympics’ opening ceremony on Sunday, countering backlash over the mockery of The Last Supper during the performance.

The opening ceremony received condemnation from American leaders, world leaders, Christian groups, and athletes for its portrayal of one of the most revered events in Christianity.

The display seemed to mimic a depiction of The Last Supper, a well-known artwork by Leonardo da Vinci. The group performing had drag queens, a transgender model, and a singer who was dressed in a way to look like the Greek god Dionysus.

Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps discussed the controversy on Sunday.

“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. (The opening ceremony) tried to celebrate community tolerance,” Descamps told reporters, via Reuters. “We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense, we are really sorry.”

Another prominent French LGBT leader argued that the controversial ceremony should have gone further.

“We know in the LGBTQ community in France we are far from what the ceremony showed. There’s much progress to do in society regarding transgender people. It’s terrible that to legally change their identity they are forced to be on trial,” Inter-LGBT president James Leperlier said. “If you saw the opening ceremony last night you’d think it was like that normally, but it’s not. France tried to show what it should be and not what it is.”

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker and former MLB star Roy Oswalt were among notable athletes who spoke out against the parody.

The French Bishops’ Conference released a statement on X, saying “this ceremony unfortunately included scenes of mockery and derision of Christianity, which we deeply regret. We would like to thank the members of other religious denominations who have expressed their solidarity with us.”

“This morning, we are thinking of all the Christians on every continent who have been hurt by the outrageousness and provocation of certain scenes,” the French Bishops’ Conference added.

One French X user, @JulietteBriens, wrote, “As a sincerely patriotic French girl, I disolidarise myself from this freakshow and apologize to you, world.”

Another X user from France, @Arwenstar posted “As a French woman I am deeply embarrassed by this #OpeningCeremony and would like to apologise to the entire world for subjecting you all to this sick farce. Don’t hate us, it isn’t us, it’s the woke metropolitan elite – they ruin f****** everything.”