"What about the testicle?" - Nick Kyrgios raises questions about controversial Olympics opening ceremony after Rennae Stubbs downplays 'blasphemy'
Nick Kyrgios has questioned Serena Williams' ex-coach Rennae Stubbs over her seemingly downplaying the accusations of blasphemy on the controversial drag queen performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony on Thursday, July 25.
The performance has drawn the ire of Christians worldwide after it was perceived as a blatant mockery of the Last Supper. It is considered a major turning point in Christian history as it is symbolic of Jesus Christ foreshadowing himself being betrayed by one of his Twelve Apostles.
The massive outrage has prompted the organizers of the Paris Olympics to issue a clarification on the controversial subject. Recently, Anne Descamps, a spokesperson for this year's edition of the Games, said that disrespecting a religious community was never the intention of the drag queen act, and instead, it was meant to promote tolerance and inclusion.
Amid the raging controversy, Rennae Stubbs, who coached Serena Williams for the 2022 US Open, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share an elaborate note that claimed that the drag queen performance depicted a Bacchanal; one of the ancient Greek parties in honor of Dionysus, the Greek god of fertility, wine, and pleasure. Stubbs captioned the post:
"To all those losing their minds about the opening ceremony and thinking it was blasphemy."
Kyrgios, upon taking notice of Stubbs' post, hit back at his compatriot, asking her about the 'testicle' that appeared to stick out from under a performer's pants during the controversial act.
"What about the testicle?" asked Kyrgios.
Nick Kyrgios ruled himself out of the Paris Olympics earlier this year
In January this year, Kyrgios said that he would not play at the Paris Olympics, even if he managed to get back to full fitness following an injury-stricken 2023 season. The former World No. 13 opined that he had been treated unfairly ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics, citing it as the reason for his decision to skip the prestigious Games in Paris.
"One thing I will guarantee, though, is that if I am fit and ready to play, I won't be making myself available for the Olympics. The way I was treated by the Australian Olympic Committee and former Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller will never be forgotten," Nick Kyrgios had written in a column for The Sydney Morning Herald.
"To ban me from playing at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games was a disgrace. I was number 13 at the time and had a genuine chance at winning a medal," he added.
The Australian Olympic Committee later responded to Kyrgios' statement, issuing one of its own, in which it maintained that it held the ATP star in high regard and was accepting of his decision to skip the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Nick Kyrgios is yet to reach full fitness and make his return to tennis. His last high-profile appearance in the sport came at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, where he served as an analyst and a commentator for the BBC.