Birmingham Business Owner Clarifies Olympics Opening Ceremony 'Last Supper' Controversy

The controversy surrounding a scene resembling the "Last Supper" performed by drag artists at the Paris Olympics opening ceremonies stems from a misunderstanding, according to a popular Birmingham business owner.

"The scene in question was not a depiction of the Last Supper but rather an ancient Greek Bacchanal. This choice reflects the Olympics’ historical roots in ancient Greece," Johnny Grimes posted on Facebook on Saturday.

Grimes, who is among the business partners who purchased the WorkPlay bar and music hall in 2023, clarified the matter. In 2020, after his downtown business Wheelhouse Salon was vandalized following George Floyd's murder, Grimes commissioned a mural of Floyd with the words "Bham Strong" on plywood to replace the store’s broken windows.

Grimes explained his perspective by sharing his background: "I did a study tour through Greece in grad school. We visited Olympia, the place where the Olympics were created."

He described the performance as a rendition of a Bacchanalia celebration, "honoring Bacchus, the god of wine, also known as Dionysus in Greek mythology. These festivals were characterized by their exuberance and festivities, often lasting for several days."

Grimes also addressed another element of the performance: "Additionally, the figure you saw was not Death on a pale horse, but Sequana, the Goddess of the Seine River. Her presence was intended to symbolize the Olympic spirit and the river where the procession took place.