Blue God or Bold Statement? Philippe Katerine Defends Controversial Olympic Performance

Philippe Katerine, the French actor and singer, has become the talk of the town, or rather, the world, following his daring performance as a mostly nude, blue-tinged Greek god during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

Despite the ensuing controversy, the 55-year-old remains unfazed, claiming to feel “super good.”  

Katerine transformed into Dionysus, the god of fertility, ecstasy, and wine, for the spectacular event. His body was adorned with nothing but a modest garland of leaves and fruit, while gallons of waterproof blue paint and a sprinkle of yellow glitter completed the otherworldly look. The process, he confessed to Le Parisien newspaper, was an ordeal involving a full-body wax that was both painful and exhilarating.

“I suffered a lot and I loved it,” Katerine said, showcasing his penchant for the dramatic.

A Pagan Feast, Not  Sacred Mockery

The performance, featuring Katerine lounging on a table surrounded by drag queens, drew ire from conservative critics who accused it of mocking the Last Supper. However, director Thomas Jolly clarified that the inspiration was far from the iconic Leonardo da Vinci painting. Instead, Jolly envisioned a “pagan feast linked” to the gods of Olympus. 

Katerine, proud of his contribution, emphasized the cultural significance of the performance. “It’s my culture,” he stated. “We’re full of different people and everyone lives their own way and, above all, has the right to do so. I loved doing it.”

A Return to Olympic Origins

The French entertainer revealed that his decision to appear nude was a deliberate attempt to honor the original spirit of the Olympic Games. “Nudity is really the very origin of the Games,” he explained. “At first, they were naturist Olympics.”

To further drive home his message, Katerine composed a new song titled “Nu,” meaning nude, which he performed during the ceremony. “I wanted to get my message across, which goes something like this: ‘If you’re naked, there’s no war because there are no weapons,'” he said.

Love him or hate him, Philippe Katerine has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the Paris Olympics. His performance, a bold fusion of art, provocation, and cultural commentary, has sparked a global conversation about the boundaries of expression and the enduring power of the human form.

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