7 accused of cyberbullying after the negative reaction of the artistic director of the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris

PARIS – In connection with this, seven persons have been charged cyberbullying focusing on Thomas Jolly, the artistic inspiration Olympics in Paris French authorities have announced the opening and closing ceremonies.

Online attacks erupted after Jolly’s the famous but controversial discovery of July on the Seine, a surprising, energetic fusion of tradition and modernity that was too bold for some to ignore.

The abuse quickly escalated, peppered with homophobic and anti-Semitic slurs and reportedly aimed at silencing the show’s artistic intent. In response, Jolly filed a formal complaint with Paris prosecutors on July 31, prompting an investigation that led to the “first wave” of arrests, with more expected to follow.

The seven defendants, ranging in age from 22 to 79, are charged with making threats to kill, aggravated assault and cyberbullying — serious charges that can lead to prison terms and large fines.

Cheerfulthe theater personality known for combining bold cultural themes with LGBTQ+ celebrations conceived his production, which lit up the City of Light, as a vibrant, inclusive representation of French diversity. Jolly’s star-studded opening ceremony, featuring queer luminaries such as Celine Dion and Lady Gaga. However, the drag performers, high-spirited catwalks and, in particular, a scene interpreted by some as “The Last Supper” drew the ire of far-right politicians and religious figures around the world.

Hungary’s ambassador to the Vatican, Eduard Habsburg, called the scene disrespectful, quipping that “destroying a Habsburg head and mocking central Christian events are really the FIRST two things that come to mind when you think of the #Olympics.” Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump went further, calling the scene a “disgrace.”

Although Jolly later clarified that any resemblance to The Last Supper was unintentional, backlash continued to rage, with both criticism and support for the inclusion of LGBTQ+ elements.

Amidst the noise Jolly told French lawmakers last month that there is a difference between constructive criticism and the discriminatory attacks he received.

“Criticism is my life … but when it involves discrimination, it becomes criminal,” he said.

Emphasizing that the show’s purpose was neither offensive nor religious, he defended his vision, expressing disbelief that anyone could interpret his work as disrespectful.

“I didn’t mean to mock any religion,” he stressed, reflecting on the fact that he included the reference to Notre Dame as a tribute to France’s cultural heritage rather than a religious statement.

Support for Jolley has come from the arts community, including fellow performers who have also suffered online abuse. Barbara Butch, an LGBTQ+ activist and DJ, and Drag Race France host Nicky Doll, who performed at the Olympic ceremony, were among those who pursued. Although only Jolly was named in the official statement by the prosecution, the wave of hostility spread to others involved in the production.

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”.

Drag Race France winner Le Philippe echoed this sentiment, describing the ceremony as a “crowning moment” for the LGBTQ+ community and a “postcard for France” that showcases the inclusive nation it is today. He also expressed shock at the negative reaction to the Jolly event.

Prosecutors on Friday underscored the seriousness of the charges and arrests, 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.