Kenny Wallace, a former NASCAR driver and FOX Sports racing analyst, has recently been in the news for his strong stance on the 2024 Paris Olympics. In the latest episode of his YouTube show “Coffee with Kenny,” Wallace explained why he won’t be watching this global sporting event.
The 2024 Paris Olympics is scheduled to open on July 26 and run until August 11. The opening ceremony of the Olympics took place on July 26, but it seems to have angered many people, including Wallace. The performance during the ceremony was criticized for resembling Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper.” Online Christian groups, as well as Donald Trump and Elon Musk, were apparently upset by the performance.
Many called it a parody of the Last Supper. Wallace claimed on his YouTube channel that it was an “insult to 1.6 billion people” and that he wouldn’t watch the Olympics. “A lot of people are boycotting the Olympics, but when they offend, er, 1.6 billion people, that’s the price they pay there,” Wallace said (6:13). “I’m not going to watch the Olympics, but I feel bad for these great athletes, because these athletes have worked their whole lives to get to this Olympics.
They deserve to watch,” he added. Critics claim that actor and singer-songwriter Philippe Catherine played Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, wearing blue makeup and holding few flowers. Watch the performance below:
Thomas Joly, artistic director of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, defended the performance, claiming he wanted to promote inclusivity and diversity. “I don’t mean to be disruptive, I don’t want to mock or shock…Above all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion, but in no way divisive,” Joly said (via AP).
Kenny Wallace surprised by boycott impact
Former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace also said in the same video that he was surprised by the impact of his words, claiming that he had underestimated his influence. “I underestimate my power sometimes,” he admitted (3:44). “I’m just Kenny. I don’t think of myself enough to be on national news.” (4:30)
In a previous episode, Wallace said he would boycott the 2024 Paris Olympics because of the opening ceremony. “I said, ‘I don’t think I’m going to watch the Olympics because I don’t like the way they started,'” Wallace explained (1:53). He added that his YouTube manager Charlie informed him that some national news networks had picked up his comments and made headlines.
