In France, seven people were arrested in the case of cyberbullying the head of the Olympics opening ceremony.

France arrested 7 people in the case of cyberbullying against the organizer of the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris

The French authorities detained 7 people in connection with the case of online harassment of Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris. After the ceremony, Jolly began receiving numerous threats and insults online, and the National Center for Combating Online Hatred decided to investigate the case.

According to authorities, among the detainees are 6 men aged 32 to 79 and a 57-year-old woman. The arrests took place in various regions, including Paris, Hérault, and the Alpes-Maritimes.

Some of the arrested have "troubling internet profiles," and one of the accused is known as a "professional instigator of hatred" with a significant history of online persecution.

All five individuals confessed to the crimes and will be brought to court on March 5, 2025. They are charged with cyberbullying, death threats, and insults under aggravating circumstances based on sexual and religious orientation.

Olympics Organizers' Apologies

The organizers of the 2024 Olympics in France stated that they apologize for the show during the opening ceremony, which drew criticism due to a parody of Leonardo da Vinci's fresco "The Last Supper." The performance participants mimicked the poses of the apostles at the table, with a singer in the center depicting the Greek god Dionysus.

The organizers stated that their goal was to convey a message of tolerance and opposition to violence. The general case materialized disrespect for religious symbols. Olympic 2024 spokeswoman Ann D'Camp noted that they apologize if anyone was offended, and said that the organizers are very sorry that this happened.