7 mei 2024 om 23:05 Update: 16 min. geleden
Political statements are not allowed on the Eurovision Song Contest stage, but Eric Saade still managed to get an expression through. Ireland was told at the last minute to remove expressions from their act.
For Eric Saade, who opened the first semi-final together with Chanel and Eleni Foureira, it was clearer than for Ireland. The singer, who came third in 2011 with Popularwore a keffiyeh, a scarf often used as a headgear in Arab countries, on his wrist.
Saade has spoken out several times on social media against the war currently being waged by Israel against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Still, the scarf was a surprise.
The European Broadcasting Union responds to the Swedish Aftonbladet disappointed in Saade. “We regret that Eric Saade has chosen to use his participation in this way,” the EBU wrote in an email to the Swedish Aftonbladet.
Ireland’s statement was a lot more subtle, but had been circulating on social media for days. Artist Bambie Thug’s face read ‘ceasefire’ in the Irish Ogham alphabet during rehearsals.
Bambie Thug’s leg said ‘free Palestine’ in the same language, but prior to the television broadcast the artist was instructed to change the lyrics.
Tags: political statement Eurovision stage Eric Saade Eurovision Song Contest
