OUTinPERTH

Read the News

Subscribe

Follow us

OUTinPERTH

Read the News

Subscribe

Follow us

Premium Content:

Performers from Olympics opening ceremony to launch legal action

Several performers who took part in the Olympics opening ceremony have indicated they wilk take legal action over the extreme level of abuse and threats to their safety they have recieved.

Lesbian DJ Barbara Butch, who appeared in a segment of the opening ceremony based around a feast featuring the Greek god Dionysus, has filed police reports over the abuse she has received online.

- Advertisement -

“Since the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games artist, DJ, and activist Barbara Butch has been the target of an extremely violent campaign of cyber-harassment and defamation,” Butch’s lawyer Audrey Msellati said in a statement.

DJ Barbara Butch, image from Wikipedia public domain.

The section of the opening ceremony the performer was involved in offended Christian and conservative groups who claim that a moment in the broadcast where performers posed alongside a catwalk resembled Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of The Last Supper.

The artistic director of the segment denied there was any intention to depict The Last Supper and Olympic officials issued an apology to people who mistakenly thought it was a comment on Christianity. But as politicians, religious leaders and the stars of 80’s sitcoms rallied against the depiction, the performers were hit by waves on online abuse.

Laurence Fox, Shutterstock

French drag star Nicky Doll has also indicated she intends to launch defamation proceedings against aspiring British politician and former actor Laurence Fox over comments he posted online which appeared to describe the performs in a clip from the opening ceremony as “child f***ers” and “deviant little pedos”.

Earlier this year Fox lost a high-profile defamation case relating to online comments he made about British drag performer Crystal, and Simon Blake – a trustee of UK charity Stonewall. Fox was ordered to pay £180,000 in damages.

Latest

Mark Latham ordered to pay costs in defamation trial

Latham will be held responsible for most of Alex Greenwich's legal costs which are expected to be in the range of half a million dollars.

Former Liberal MP Rory Amon to face trail on child sex charges next year

Amon has pleaded not guilty to all 10 charges levelled against him.

Did Peter Dutton’s team remove Pride flags ahead of his visit to Headspace?

The Liberal leaders team have been accused of sweeping locations ahead of his appearances.

2025 Australian LGBTQ+ Inclusion Awards finalists announced

ACON's Pride in Diversity initiative has revealed the finalists for the 2025 Australian LGBTQ+ Inclusion Awards ahead of the Sydney ceremony on 30 May.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Mark Latham ordered to pay costs in defamation trial

Latham will be held responsible for most of Alex Greenwich's legal costs which are expected to be in the range of half a million dollars.

Former Liberal MP Rory Amon to face trail on child sex charges next year

Amon has pleaded not guilty to all 10 charges levelled against him.

Did Peter Dutton’s team remove Pride flags ahead of his visit to Headspace?

The Liberal leaders team have been accused of sweeping locations ahead of his appearances.

2025 Australian LGBTQ+ Inclusion Awards finalists announced

ACON's Pride in Diversity initiative has revealed the finalists for the 2025 Australian LGBTQ+ Inclusion Awards ahead of the Sydney ceremony on 30 May.

Martha Stewart joins Vivid Sydney with In Conversation event

The original influencer, lifestyle inspiration Martha Stewart, is heading to Vivid Sydney for an exclusive In Conversation event.

Mark Latham ordered to pay costs in defamation trial

Latham will be held responsible for most of Alex Greenwich's legal costs which are expected to be in the range of half a million dollars.

Former Liberal MP Rory Amon to face trail on child sex charges next year

Amon has pleaded not guilty to all 10 charges levelled against him.

Did Peter Dutton’s team remove Pride flags ahead of his visit to Headspace?

The Liberal leaders team have been accused of sweeping locations ahead of his appearances.