The European Broadcasting Union is trying to keep this year’s Eurovision Song Contest free of political messages against the backdrop of conflict in Gaza.
Bambie Thug from Ireland was told to change their appearance for Semi-Final One, having attempted to bring a message calling for a ceasefire onto the Eurovision stage. In rehearsals the singer had body paint in Ogham script which translated to “ceasefire” and “freedom”. The singer explained in a press conference that:
“It was very important for me because I’m pro-justice and pro-peace … Unfortunately, I had to change those messages today to ‘Crown the Witch’ only (which was an) order from the EBU”
The EBU said in a statement that:
“The writing seen on Bambie Thug’s body during dress rehearsals contravened contest rules that are designed to protect the non-political nature of the event.
“After discussions with the Irish delegation, they agreed to change the text for the live show.”
However, despite attempts to limit messages, a member of the Australian performance was able to get a message onto the contest stage. Fred Leone revealed on Instagram that he added a ‘Watermelon’ to his body paint to call against genocide in Gaza.
In addition, Eric Saade who performed as part of the Opening Act for Eurovision 2024 was criticised by show Producers and the EBU for performing with a Palestinian shawl wrapped around his wrist.
The EBU said in a statement to SVT that:
“The Eurovision Song Contest is a live program. All artists are informed of the rules of the competition. We regret that Eric Saade chose to disregard the non-political nature of the event”.
Since the war in Gaza began on October 7, Israel’s participation in Eurovision has been a controversial topic. Many artists, musicians, and fans across Europe have called for Israel to be excluded from the competition because of their involvement in military action.
Israel’s national final, HaKokhav HaBa, which is broadcast by Keshet 12 but used as a Eurovision selection in collaboration with KAN, featured judges and contestants wearing military uniform and overt promotion of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
This led some Eurovision media organisations, including Eurovoix, to substantially restrict their coverage of Israel within Eurovision.
Some of this year’s Eurovision artists, including Windows95Man from Finland and Denmark’s SABA, have also said they considered whether competing in Eurovision was the right thing to do if Israel were still involved.
Image source: Daniel Stridh | Source: RTE / SVT
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
