Gojira Shrug Off 'Satanic' Claims Following Their Olympics Opening Ceremony Performance
Gojira frontman Joe Duplantier stated that their performance wasn't satanic but depicted "French history" and was "romantic" and "normal."
Gojira performing at the Olympics Opening Ceremony (Source: YouTube/Thomas Hardy)
Gojira have laughed off claims that their performance at the Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday (26 July) was “satanic.”
The French four-piece didn’t just make waves for being the first metal band to ever perform at the Olympics but discovered the ire of some commentators and politicians who attempted to stir up fear about their performance.
What was deemed satanic? Not the music itself, but the beheaded Marie Antionette singing at the start of Gojira’s performance, fire, red streamers and red smoke meant to signify blood.
For their dramatic, history-making performance, Gojira performed Ah, Ça Ira! (approximately translates to ‘It’ll be fine,’ per NME), a popular song during the French Revolution.
The band’s performance took place during a segment entitled “Liberté”, which references the famous French motto, “Liberté, égalité, fraternité.” The segment emphasised famous events throughout French history.
Gojira frontman Joe Duplantier shrugged off negative commentary from the likes of JD Vance, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s running mate for the November election, Andrew Tate, and Donald Trump Jr., the latter two making claims that their performance was insulting to Christians.
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Responding to claims that the band’s performance was “satanic,” Duplantier said in a new interview with Rolling Stone, “It’s none of that. It’s French history. It’s French charm, you know, beheaded people, red wine, and blood all over the place — it’s romantic, it’s normal.”
He continued, “There’s nothing satanic [laughs].
“France is a country that made a separation between the state and religion during the revolution, and it’s something very important, very dear to the foundation of republican France. We call it laïcité. It’s when the state is not religious anymore, so therefore, it’s free in terms of expression and symbolism.
“It’s all about history and facts. We don’t look too close closely at symbolism in terms of religion.”
You can watch the band’s performance at the Olympics Opening Ceremony again below, and watch the entire opening ceremony and all the sports you like on Stan Sport.
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