“The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg addressed the controversy surrounding the drag queen performance at the Olympics opening ceremony, which many believed depicted “The Last Supper.” Goldberg encouraged those upset by it to “just turn the TV off.”
“If you are not happy with something, and it bothers you, don’t take 20 hours to write an email. Just turn the TV off. Watch something else. Put the newspaper down. Don’t look at the pictures. These are choices, you know. We’re back to this thing. These are our choices. You have the ability. Forget what Instagram is telling you. If you don’t like it, go to something else,” Goldberg said on Monday.
Critics targeted the group of drag queens for their apparent portrayal of the “Last Supper,” famously painted by Leonardo da Vinci, which depicts Jesus and his apostles sharing a final meal before his crucifixion.
However, Goldberg pointed out that the performance’s director denied it was a reference to the Last Supper: “The guy that put it all together said it was from ‘The Feast of the Gods,’ a 17th-century Dutch painting of the Greek Olympian gods, you know, the Olympian gods because it’s the Olympics.”
Goldberg reiterated to viewers that if the Olympics coverage upset them, they should simply turn off the TV and watch something else. “Come on, y’all. It’s the Olympics. Stop. They’re not trying to do anything except talk about the history. They’re showing you the history. There are too many people in the picture for it to be the 12 disciples and then the seven or eight other people in the picture,” she added.
Co-host Sara Haines expressed frustration with the religious arguments and emphasized that “intention” mattered. She noted that the performance’s director had apologized to those who were offended. “Don’t go by the literal letter of the Bible. Go by the example of the word, which is to live with grace. Live with forgiveness. I get so tired of being beaten over the head with religious messages while someone walks along their life not living like Jesus at all. Really understand the mission,” Haines said.
Co-host Ana Navarro suggested shifting the focus to the Olympic athletes, emphasizing that the Olympic Games only happen every four years. “This was a very small part of it, and it’s what’s consumed so much of America, I guess. I would say, you know, it happens every four years. There are young people who train their entire lives to be there, to represent our countries. Can we please give them the focus?” Navarro said.
Leave a Reply