"The mask is fully off"-Riley Gaines slams 'moral depravity' at Paris Olympics 2024 Opening Ceremony
Riley Gaines has hit out at the organizers of the ongoing Paris Olympics over what has been considered an overly disrespectful opening ceremony. The opening ceremony, which was hosted on Friday, has received backlash from the masses over the acts displayed.
Gaines called out the organizers, wondering why they would have chosen to go down a route that would call for online attacks from people across the globe.
The opening ceremony performance, which featured drag queens reenacting a scene reminiscent of the Last Supper, left thousands of viewers shocked and appalled.
The drag queens assumed the roles of Jesus and His disciples, sparking outrage among Christians who deemed the potrayal blasphemous. All the drag queens stood behind a table, posing just like Jesus and his disciples. A woman, dressed in blue, occupied the central position traditionally held by Jesus.
The drag queens were also in the company of children, a move that irked netizens who did not mince their words. Another act that drew the attention of online critics was the beheading of Queen Marie Antoinette and Philippe Katerine.
Riley Gaines expressed her outrage on X, condemning the organizers. She added that they had finally revealed their true intentions, questioning the motivations behind such a heinous act.
"They MUST have known celebrating this type of moral depravity at the Olympics would cause outrage, right?" Gaines wrote.
"So why? Are they that committed to being "virtuous" or is it something else? Money? I can't make sense of it. Either way, the mask is fully off," she said.
"Men and women are different" - Riley Gaines insists as she continues to fight against inequality in sports
Riley Gaines has been a well-known figure in the movement to support women in sports, and she has recently stuck to her belief that women and men are not the same.
Gaines noted that the move to openly fight for women has gained her lovers and haters in equal measure. Speaking before a crowd in Missouri, Gaines added that she has met people who showered her with love, lauding her bravery in standing up for her rights.
The 24-year-old continued, saying that each athlete should adhere to their gender identity because there are only two sexes and that one cannot change their sex.
"For merely saying that men and women are different – that’s my whole shtick, men and women are different – but for saying that, really, it blows my mind that that’s considered brave," said Gaines.
"I have people all the time tell me, ‘Thank you for your bravery. How do you find the courage?’ I respond back with, ‘Easily.’ It’s easy to say what I’m saying. It’s not hard. Everyone knows it. It’s not saying anything profound or anything that makes me super wise. I promise you, I’m not," she added.
As the number of men competing alongside women rises, Riley Gaines has taken the lead in calling attention to these acts and has worked tirelessly to advance equality in sports.
Gaines has also authored a book, Swimming Against the Current: Fighting for Common Sense in a World That's Lost Its Mind, which talks about her experience as a swimmer and encourages women to always speak up when being oppressed.