The 2024 Olympics opening ceremony in Paris turned out to be a grand spectacle, with Lady Gaga putting on a dazzling show on the banks of the Siene, metal band Gojira putting in an unexpected appearance alongside a reminder of the French attitude toward royalty, and a performer that viewers couldn’t help comparing to an American peer with dog-themed name. Incidentally, it wasn’t Snoop!
As French rapper Rim’K, a long tenured fixture of the French hip-hop scene, performed, Twitter’s trending topics lit up with mentions of “French Pitbull” as viewers noted his uncanny resemblance to Mr. Worldwide.
Sorry I just screamed “FRENCH PITBULL?!” to my housemate #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/9IDpUVm7Y1
— Carrie Walsh (@carrie_walsh_) July 26, 2024
My favourite dog breed? A French pitbull pic.twitter.com/fEBrWnFhBA
— rory (@HerbErflinger) July 26, 2024
Someone please send me French Pitbull’s name. pic.twitter.com/YmM7oJBNVy
— Gingery Rogers (@GingeryRogers) July 26, 2024
Aye this French Pitbull kinda slaps pic.twitter.com/e0M0pTclM7
— Digital DAM (@TheDigitalDam) July 26, 2024
If you aren’t watching the Opening Ceremony, you are missing French Pitbull wearing what appears to be a lumberjack afghan shirt? pic.twitter.com/1XxoVk0DSr
— Jessica Welman (@jesswelman) July 26, 2024
Rim’K is of Algerian descent, and regularly references the country in his often political songs. He released his debut album, L’enfant du pays, in 2004, reaching No. 8 on the French charts, and he’s continued releasing music at a fairly impressive clip until recently; his last album, Mutant, came out in 2018 and peaked at No. 6 on the French charts. Rim’K is also a member of the group 113 and the larger collective Mafia K-1 Fry. He’s credited for introducing Maghrebian folk rhythms to rap, and is considered one of France’s premier rappers.
Speaking of dog-themed rappers, Snoop Dogg carrying the torch has sparked its own run of hilarious jokes.