Off The Record
5 Events That Caused A Stir During The 2024 Summer Olympics
Controversy surrounded the conclusion of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, with the Closing Ceremony being deemed “long” and “boring.”
The polarizing social media reactions brought about by the ominous imagery and unsettling music left fans feeling disappointed and divided. See what transpired to cause this internet commotion.
Thomas Jolly, who oversaw the contentious Opening Ceremony in July, conducted Paris’ Closing Ceremony at the Stade de France on August 11, 2024, to conclude the Olympic Games.
Over 70,000 people attended the “Records” event at the stadium, and millions more watched from home. Rapper Dr. Dre and Grammy Award winner Billie Eilish were among the famous guests who performed on stage.
These prominent individuals caused controversy when they attended the games, dividing internet users and allaying some fears.
Online Users Question Tom Cruise’s Appearance at the Closing Ceremony
At the Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony, Hollywood action hero Tom Cruise made a stunning debut by swinging down from the roof of the Stade de France.
Famed for his audacious antics in the “Mission: Impossible” series, Cruise mesmerized the crowd by lowering himself into the stadium to the accompaniment of guitar player H.E.R.
A pre-recorded animation that showed Cruise flying through Paris before arriving in the United States was shown throughout the concert. When he got to the Hollywood sign, he unfurled the Olympic colors, signifying the handover to Los Angeles, which will host the 2028 Olympic Games.
With this event, Paris officially ended its run as this year’s host city. In addition to H.E.R.’s performance of the American national song, Cruise’s performance gave the ceremony a special touch.
Recipient of the Olympic flag from the late, great gymnast Simone Biles, Cruise made an unforgettable impression by swooping past the crowd on a motorcycle.
Some may have found amusement in Cruise’s presence, but not everyone was pleased with his presence at the closing ceremony. One X user said, “Why is Tom Cruise on there?” in reference to his presence.
“He barely qualifies as a human being. Nasty, egotistical person in real life, no redeeming personal qualities. Acting his way thru life,” another remarked.
More people critiqued Cruise for his personal life choices as someone brought up his strained relationship with his daughter. “[…] He couldn’t be a father to Suri but he can play hero on TV. Disgusting,” wrote one user.
Another commented, “Super cheesy… I refuse to watch anything little Tom Cruise is in…he’s in a cult… why promote him as the face of 2028 Olympics?”
As Cruise performed at the ceremony, some users concentrated more on his facial expressions and assumed certain things.
One said, “There’s just something not right with his face! Why do movie stars mess with nature, be real not fake and age with Grace; it’s a much better look!”
Someone else questioned, “Has he gained weight? That face doesn’t really look like Tom Cruise. Maybe he’s actually aging a bit. Or…stunt double?”
“Tom Cruise gives me the ick and my gosh, how much filler has he shoved into his face,” one user expressed about the three-time Golden Globe Award winner.
A Woman’s Enthusiastic Reaction to Tom Cruise Divides Online Users
Cruise’s performance at the Olympics in Paris has generated discussion on the internet. He got into an embarrassing situation with a spectator during the closing ceremony, and it rapidly became a topic of conversation.
The event featured an anonymous woman whose interactions with Cruise provoked discussion over whether the actions would be considered appropriate in a role-reversal.
A video of the woman trying to kiss the four-time Academy Award contender went viral, sparking the debate. In the video, Cruise is seen circulating through the crowd and giving warm greetings to admirers. At one point, he leans in to give one of them a hug, which creates an unexpected moment.
Soon after, the woman gets close enough to kiss him on both of his cheeks and he can be seen pulling away from her immediately. “How’d that lady almost make out with Tom Cruise on international TV? #ClosingCeremony,” the user who shared the clip captioned the post on X.
This stunt rubbed some people the wrong way, as they called out the woman for forcibly trying to invade Cruise’s personal space. One commented, “Imagine if the roles were reversed…”
“She was extremely inappropriate; you can’t just try to kiss a stranger. If a man had done that to a female celebrity there’d be an uproar,” penned another.
One online user concurred, writing, “Not acceptable…I shudder to think what if the roles were reversed!” More people noted the woman’s behavior was despicable. “It was rude,” said one person, while another added, “She needs to be punished!”
However, not everyone found her actions to be amusing and offending. One said, “Legendary,” alongside a laughing emoji. Someone suggested, “Lol…she is showing love.” Another exclaimed, “She went for the Gold!! Good for her!” while one gushed, “Wow, wonderful.”
Kate Middleton’s Video Appearance Raises Concerns Among Fans
One well-known person has alarmed internet users amid the Paris Olympics controversy by turning up in an Instagram video.
Fans were alarmed when Kate Middleton, Prince William, and other celebrities praised Team Great Britain for their accomplishments prior to the closing ceremony.
Even though she appeared to be smiling broadly in the video, several quickly pointed out that she was acting fake. “Trying to put on a happy face, but you must have suffered a lot,” someone said. “Wishing you luck and getting closer to a full recovery, Kate.”
Another person expressed sympathy for the princess, adding, “Kate doesn’t look happy in this photo. Wood regards and well-being to her.” One said the Princess of Wales appears to be hardly glowing because to the after effects of chemotherapy, but they nonetheless wished her a quick recovery.
As one person observed, “She looks painfully thin and fragile,” another person had similar thoughts. One person wrote, “I hope Kate keeps getting well. Her eyes no longer sparkle, and she appears extremely exhausted. One courageous woman.”
One user, who also writes, “I wish the Princess of Wales well,” is adamant that the monarch, who loves sports, would have gone to the Olympics in Paris if she had been able.
The Part of the Athlete Karaoke That Bore and Confused the Viewers
During the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics, a rather peculiar incident occurred when athletes joined together to sing. The mood of the evening was set as they entered a futuristic stage and danced to French electro music.
An announcement preceded the “athlete karaoke” portion, which urged participants to belt out a few songs when the teams entered the stadium.
French hits like Gala’s “Freed From Desire” and Queen’s timeless “We Are the Champions” were among the songs played, igniting the biggest sing-along of the evening. This accomplishment, however, did not impress everyone at home. X users criticized the way things was planned and voiced their discontent.
One internet user thought it was “boring” and clumsy, while another could hardly watch the entire thing. There was another person who didn’t like the playlist.
Though the idea of athlete karaoke seemed intriguing, one person said, “I don’t think it works very well enough.” Another said, “Athlete karaoke without lyrics? I’m confused. In addition, Let’s not hold the Olympics in this city once more.”
“Karaoke for athletes? Because hearing the greatest sportsmen in the world sing is why we’re here,” a snarky commenter said. One person was pleased that Queen’s “We Are the Champions” was included in the playlist, while another rejected the concept.
Viewers Call a Dystopian Performance an Insult
Notably, the closing ceremony honored the heritage of the Olympic Games and had cultural value for France. A Golden Voyager representing the Spirit of the Bastille descended from the stadium’s roof during the event.
With depictions of the Greek gods Nike and Apollo, this show honored both the modern Olympics and its Greek roots.
However, ominous images, unsettling music, and thick smoke seemed to ruin the entire atmosphere and overpower the upbeat atmosphere that had characterized the previous 16 days of competition.
Some viewers apparently muted their televisions to avoid the eerie voiceover and the out-of-place music since the atmosphere felt more enigmatic and unnerving than festive. Additionally, the section ran on and eventually became boring and repetitive.
Some viewers voiced similar criticisms of the opening ceremony, saying that the scene in which the figures and dancers reassembled the Olympic rings had a “dystopian” and even “satanic” air.
This tone stood in stark contrast to the feelings of gratitude that are usually felt at the end of an event this big and so inspirational on a worldwide scale.
One of the frank comments made by X users on the closing ceremony was, “The most boring closing ceremony of the Olympics ever.”
Some thought the ceremony lasted too long, while others thought a certain performer’s show wasn’t very enjoyable. One more person said, quite plainly, “[…] did not like the end at all.”
Even while the competitors’ gold haul brought the Olympics in Paris to a successful conclusion, the incidents that occurred will serve as a reminder of the drawbacks of hosting a major international athletic event.
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