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[Global Times Comprehensive Report] According to French TF1 TV station on the 3rd, French President Macron made a statement on the 2nd regarding the controversy caused by the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. He expressed anger at the online violence suffered by the opening ceremony director and artistic director Thomas Joly and others, and said that "there is no reason for artists to be threatened."

French President Emmanuel Macron file photo Source: Visual China

A week has passed since the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, but the controversy caused by its performance has not subsided. Joly, the chief director and artistic director, Nicole Doré, a transgender actress who was accused of offending the performance of "The Last Supper", and other opening ceremony staff have been harassed, insulted and even threatened on the Internet. It is reported that Joly, who was overwhelmed by the harassment, had previously filed a complaint with the "Brigade against Personal Crimes" under the French "Anti-Hate Center", including "death threats due to the victim's origin and sexual orientation, or public insults and defamation of their origin and sexual orientation." Some other actors participating in the opening ceremony also filed complaints with the French prosecutor's office about cyberbullying and death threats. The Paris Public Prosecutor's Office launched a judicial investigation into online harassment and threats against Joly, Doré and others last week.

French President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned the online violence against the performers of the opening ceremony. When he visited the Invalides in Paris on the 2nd to visit the volunteers, he made it clear that "the French are very proud of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. (The opening ceremony) showed (France's) true face and courage, and achieved this with appropriate artistic freedom." Macron expressed "shock and anger" about the online violence suffered by Joly and others, and said that "(anyone) has no reason to threaten artists." In addition, Paris Mayor Hidalgo also expressed support for Joly, Dole and other opening ceremony planners and performers on different occasions. (Dong Ming)