French performer Barbara Butch defiantly carried the Paralympic torch in Paris after facing a wave of hate speech following her appearance in the Olympics opening ceremony. Butch, a popular DJ and LGBTQ+ icon, refused to back down in the face of online harassment, death threats, and insults.
“I chose not to be afraid to exist in the public space,” Butch declared in an interview before walking onstage with the torch at a musical event in Saint-Cloud. Despite receiving “tens of thousands of hate messages,” she remained steadfast in her commitment to represent France alongside her fellow citizens.
Butch filed a formal legal complaint, joining five other artists and performers who also faced abuse after the ceremony. A specialized team was able to identify and address the individuals responsible for the most severe message, moving towards justice and accountability at an international level.
As part of the Paralympic torch relay, Butch and nearly 1,000 torchbearers will take the flame to 50 cities across France, promoting inclusion in sport and raising awareness of living with disabilities. The relay aims to highlight individuals dedicated to supporting and empowering those with impairments, culminating in a unified flame during the opening ceremony in central Paris.
