The DJ and Activist Condemns Online Threats and Vows to Take Legal Action
Since the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, artist, DJ, and activist Barbara Butch has been the target of a violent campaign of cyber-harassment and defamation. The attacks have included death threats and threats of torture and rape, as well as numerous antisemitic, homophobic, sexist, and grossophobic insults.
Butch was at the center of the tableau vivant of Dionysus, which caused anger and controversy among conservatives and religious groups after they erroneously assumed that it was a representation of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper, “ and insisted that the opening ceremony was “Satanic” and blasphemous.
In a social media statement, Butch condemns this hatred directed at her, her identity, and her values. She says that her commitments to benevolence, inclusivity, and love for others have always been central to her artistic mission of promoting festivities for all, regardless of age, sexual orientation, origin, religion, or gender.
In response to these attacks, Butch is filing several complaints against the perpetrators, whether they are French nationals or foreigners, and intends to prosecute anyone who attempts to intimidate her in the future.
“I am extremely honored to have participated in the opening ceremony of Paris 2024 as an artist and to have shared my vision for the festival. My heart is still broken, and I thank you for all the love and strength you have given me since then,” Butch stated.
She expressed gratitude to collaborators, including Daphne Burki, Thoma Jolly, Victor Le Masne, Maud Le Pladec, and Thomas Anduze, for their trust and support. Butch emphasized her lifelong commitment to inclusivity and love through her DJ career and activism, believing these values are crucial even when the world falls apart.
Despite the cyber-harassment, Butch remains resolute. “I’ve never been ashamed of who I am, and I own it all — including my artistic choices. All my life, I’ve refused to be a victim: I will not shut up. I’m not afraid of those who hide behind a screen or a pseudonym to vomit their hatred and frustrations. I will battle them down without trembling,” she declared.
Butch concluded with a powerful statement of pride in her identity and her mission: “I’m engaged and proud. Proud of who I am, what I am, and what I embody, and for my loved ones and for millions of French people. My France is France!”
