7 were accused of a cyberbullying campaign against the artistic director of the Paris Olympics

PARIS – French authorities said Friday that they have charged seven people in connection with cyberbullying campaign targeting Thomas Jolly, art director Olympics in Paris opening and closing ceremonies.

After his famous but controversial queer-inclusive screening in July. He filed a complaint on July 31.

The Paris prosecutor’s office, which opened the investigation, said on Friday that the arrests marked only the “first wave” of arrests and more were expected as authorities expanded their investigation.

The seven defendants, ranging in age from 22 to 79, face charges of making threats to kill, aggravated assault and cyberbullying, with potential prison terms and significant fines.

Jolly’s opening ceremony was a bold mix of French tradition and LGBTQ+ expression, with drag acts, colorful catwalks and a stage that some drew parallels to Da Vinci’s Last Supper.

The event, which took place along the Seine and featured stars such as Celine Dion and Lady Gaga, was meant to be a celebration of freedom and inclusiveness. But it sparked criticism, with far-right politicians and religious figures denouncing some of the scenes as provocative.

Hungary’s ambassador to the Vatican criticized the scene, which became known as the Last Supper, for allegedly mocking Christian iconography. Republican presidential candidate and former US president Donald Trump also spoke out, calling the scene a “disgrace”.

Cheerful later distanced himself from the Last Supper references, saying that was not his intention.

Among the performers are Hugo Bardin, known as drag queen Paloma, expressed pride in the bold reporting of the event inclusion and called it “a really important moment for the French people and the representation of France in the whole world”.

Le Philippe, winner of Drag Race France, also expressed shock at the negative reaction to Jolie’s event, describing the ceremony as a “crowning moment” for the LGBTQ+ community.

Prosecutors on Friday underscored the seriousness of the allegations, saying the case reflects a troubling pattern of cyberbullying and hate speech directed at prominent figures.

It said the suspects sought to “intimidate and silence expressions of inclusivity” and diversity during a highly public and symbolic event.

The arrests are seen as the first step in France’s fight against cyberbullying, which authorities say is becoming increasingly sophisticated. In Jolly’s case, prosecutors pointed to a troubling “pack behavior” of attackers acting independently to escalate harassment, a pattern seen in other online hate campaigns.

The seven defendants are scheduled to appear in court on March 5.