Joe Duplantier of Gojira has responded to accusations of satanism following the band’s performance at the Olympic Games opening ceremony on July 26.
Gojira performed the French Revolutionary song *Ah! Ça Ira* alongside opera singer Marina Viotti, incorporating imagery of beheaded figures to represent Queen Marie Antoinette. The performance sparked outrage among some Christians online, who labeled it as ‘satanic,’ with Andrew Tate also making similar accusations. In a new interview with *Rolling Stone*, Duplantier addressed the criticism:
“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. There’s nothing satanic [Laughs].”
Duplantier further explained the significance of the performance in the context of French culture:
“France is a country that made a separation between the state and religion during the revolution. It’s something very important, very dear to the foundation of republican France. We call it *laïcité*. It’s when the state is no longer religious, allowing freedom in terms of expression and symbolism. It’s all about history and facts. We don’t scrutinize symbolism through a religious lens.”
Andrew Tate’s Reaction
Andrew Tate shared a clip of Gojira’s performance on X, writing:
“Satanists control the West, and they show you that they worship the devil. It’s not a conspiracy theory. They literally show you. Are you blind?”
In a separate post, he added:
“I’m genuinely enraged by this Olympic opening. These evil scum have absolutely zero respect. They mock us so openly. When will people WAKE UP?”
