The alleged depiction of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” by drag queens during the opening of the Games did not sit well with many conservative politicians. Drag queen Nicky Doll, one of the queer artists who performed during the ceremony, is not deterred by the backlash on social media. “I had a dream, and that dream came to life yesterday,” she writes on Instagram. “I had the dream that France would represent its people to the fullest on the world’s biggest stage, biggest show: The Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.”

“It was my absolute honor to perform in front of billions of people around the world, and celebrate our Olympians.” For the critics, Nicky Doll has one message: “And remember, to the ones that had their feathers ruffled seeing queerness on their screen: WE AIN’T GOING NOWHERE.”

Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony, also has no regard for the commotion. “In France, people are free to love how they please, are free to love whoever they want, are free to believe or not believe.” According to Jolly, the scene with the drag queens was not “The Last Supper.” He said on French television: “The idea was to depict a grand, pagan celebration in honour of the gods on the [Greek] Mount Olympus, in connection with the Olympic Games.”

Worldwide, reactions from mainly conservative politicians and commentators poured in after the ceremony, all taking offense at the drag performance. French far-right politician Marion Maréchal said the ceremony did not represent France, but “a left-wing minority ready for any provocation.” Elon Musk called it “extremely disrespectful to Christians.” Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders called it “woke nonsense.”

Another Dutch Christian conservative politician, Don Ceder, found the performance to be “kicking” at Christians, “the most persecuted religious group in the world.” He also wondered why Islam and Hinduism were not mocked during the opening ceremony.

Even the French Catholic Bishops’ Conference felt compelled to issue a statement about the depiction. In the statement, the performance was called a “mockery of Christianity,” which they “deeply deplore.”