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Probe opened into death threats against Olympics show organisers

Paris prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation into death threats targeting three organisers of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, which notably included a 'festivity' scene which some critics have denounced as mocking Jesus.

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French prosecutors have opened an investigation into death threats made against the organisers of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, reports BBC News.

On Saturday artistic director Thomas Jolly, ceremonies director Thierry Reboul and Alexandre Billard of events agency Ubi Bene, filed a complaint for death threats.

Last month, French DJ Barbara Butch, who performed in the opening ceremony's drag queen sequence, lodged a complaint after receiving abuse online.

That sequence sparked controversy as some religious officials and conservative politicians in France and abroad saw an offensive reference to The Last Supper.

Mr Jolly has said that he was not inspired by the famous Leonardo da Vinci painting showing Jesus Christ and his apostles.

Instead, he said the sequence, titled Festivity, was inspired by Greek mythology and intended to be a celebration of diversity, adding his intention was not to "be subversive, nor to mock or to shock".

Read more of this report from BBC News.