"Paris 2024 fully supports Thomas Jolly and the creators and artists of the opening ceremony in the face of the attacks against them," a spokesman told AFP.

French investigators have opened a probe after Jolly complained of cyber-bullying following his performance. Sources close to the case confirmed this on Friday.

Jolly, who is openly gay, faced online harassment after last Friday's open-air ceremony on the Seine. She was praised despite an unexpected downpour.

However, the ceremony was criticised by Christians and far-right groups who were offended by a scene involving members of the LGBT community and claimed it mocked Christian values, a claim Jolly has denied.

On Tuesday, Jolly filed a complaint claiming he had been the target of threatening and insulting messages on social media criticising his sexual orientation and wrongly assuming he was of Israeli origin, according to the Paris prosecutor's office. The investigation includes death threats against him, and many of the hate messages were in English, a source close to the case said.

Jolly and his colleagues have not yet responded to requests for comment. Investigators are also looking into similar allegations made by Barbara Butch, a French DJ and lesbian activist who performed on the controversial stage. Her lawyer said she had been threatened with death, torture and rape.

The organisers of the ceremony claimed they were depicting a banquet of Olympian gods inspired by famous classical paintings, with a blue-skinned French pop star and actor, Philippe Katerine, playing Dionysus, the father of Sequana, the goddess of the Seine. The noise finally forced the hand of the International Olympic Committee on Sunday, as Paris 2024 organisers felt the need to tepidly apologise after an ardent defence of France’s right to freedom of expression.

But critics said it was a disrespectful parody of the Last Supper. Former US President Donald Trump, who is currently seeking re-election, called the ceremony a "disgrace", while Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, from an Islamic-rooted party, condemned it as "immorality against all Christians".

The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, expressed "on behalf of Paris and on my own behalf" her "unwavering" support for the artist. "At the opening ceremony, Thomas Jolly defended our values. Paris was proud and honoured to be able to count on his talent to enrich our city and tell the world what we are. Yesterday, today and tomorrow, Paris will always be at the side of artists, creativity and freedom," she said.