Olympic Games 2024: 5 Events around the Closing Ceremony That Caused a Stir

The event, titled “Records,” attracted over 70,000 spectators in the stadium, with millions more watching from home. Among the notable attendees were Grammy Award winner Billie Eilish and rapper Dr. Dre, who graced the stage to perform.

Here are notable figures whose presence at the Games left online users divided and some concerned as the events sparked an outrage.

Hollywood action star Tom Cruise made a dramatic entrance at the Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony, descending from the Stade de France’s roof on a wire.

Known for his daring stunts in the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, Cruise captivated the audience as he lowered himself into the stadium while American artist H.E.R. played guitar.

The spectacle included a pre-recorded film showing Cruise traveling through Paris before heading to the U.S., where he reached the Hollywood sign and unfurled the Olympic colors, symbolizing the handover to Los Angeles, the host city for the 2028 Olympic Games.

This event marked the formal farewell to Paris as this year’s host city. Alongside H.E.R.’s rendition of the U.S. national anthem, Cruise’s performance added a unique flair to the ceremony.

After receiving the Olympic flag from legendary gymnast Simone Biles, Cruise thrilled the audience by zipping away on a motorbike, leaving a lasting impression.

While Cruise’s appearance might have entertained some, other people were not happy to see him at the closing ceremony. X users questioned his presence with one writing, “Why is Tom Cruise on there?”

“He barely qualifies as a human being. Nasty, egotistical person in real life, no redeeming personal qualities. Acting his way thru life,” another remarked.

More people critiqued Cruise for his personal life choices as someone brought up his strained relationship with his daughter. “[…] He couldn’t be a father to Suri but he can play hero on TV. Disgusting,” wrote one user.

Another commented, “Super cheesy…I refuse to watch anything little Tom Cruise is in…he’s in a cult… why promote him as the face of 2028 Olympics?”

Meanwhile, other users were more focused on Cruise’s facial appearance during his performance at the ceremony and made assumptions.

One said, “There’s just something not right with his face! Why do movie stars mess with nature, be real not fake and age with Grace it’s a much better look!”

Someone else questioned, “Has he gained weight? That face doesn’t really look like Tom Cruise. Maybe he’s actually aging a bit. Or…stunt double?”

“Tom Cruise gives me the ick and my gosh how much filler has he shoved into his face,” one user expressed about the three-time Golden Globe Award winner.

Cruise’s appearance at the Paris Olympics isn’t the only moment that has stirred online chatter. During the closing ceremony, he found himself in an awkward situation with a spectator that quickly became a hot topic of discussion.

The incident involved an unidentified woman whose interaction with Cruise sparked a debate over whether the behavior would be deemed acceptable if the roles were reversed.

The controversy began when a video surfaced showing the woman attempting to kiss the four-time Academy Award nominee. In the clip, Cruise is seen moving through the crowd, warmly greeting fans, when he leans in to embrace one of them, leading to the unexpected moment.

Soon after, the woman gets close enough to kiss him on both of his cheeks and he can be seen pulling away from her immediately. “How’d that lady almost make out with Tom Cruise on international TV? #ClosingCeremony,” the user who shared the clip captioned the post on X.

This stunt rubbed some people the wrong way as they called out the woman for forcibly trying to invade Cruise’s personal space. One commented, “Imagine if the roles were reversed…”

She was extremely inappropriate; you can’t just try to kiss a stranger. If a man had done that to a female celebrity there’d be an uproar,” penned another.

One online user concurred, writing, “Not acceptable…I shudder to think what if the roles were reversed!” More people noted the woman’s behavior was despicable. “It was rude,” said one person, while another added, “She needs to be punished!”

However, not everyone was offended by her actions and found it amusing. One said, “Legendary,” alongside a laughing emoji. Someone suggested, “Lol…she is showing love.” Another exclaimed, “She went for the Gold!! Good for her!” while one gushed, “Wow, wonderful.”