Ireland’s Bambie Thug has stirred up controversy at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The singer, frustrated with the lack of support from the organizers, lashed out at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) over the row with Israel, which led to many fans boycotting the event in solidarity with Palestine. Despite the tension, Bambie Thug managed to secure a sixth-place finish, marking Ireland’s first grand final presence since 2018.
The dispute began earlier this week when Bambie Thug revealed that they were forced to remove pro-Palestine body-paint during the semi-final. The singer, clearly discontent with the situation, expressed their frustration towards the EBU, stating, “The EBU is not what Eurovision is about. Screw the EBU.” Bambie Thug also accused the Israeli broadcaster, Kan, of breaking the rules and criticized the EBU for not taking appropriate action.
Speaking to journalists in the press center, Bambie aired their concerns publicly: “Kan, the broadcaster, incited violence against me multiple times. We brought this up to the EBU, but they failed to respond promptly. Instead, they allowed us to be scapegoats and spokespersons for standing up for ourselves. I hope that next year, the Israeli broadcaster won’t be able to compete due to this rule violation.
Behind the scenes, you can’t imagine the amount of pressure and hard work we’ve put into making positive changes. I am incredibly proud of Nemo for winning and of all the contestants fighting for justice behind the scenes. The EBU is not what Eurovision is about. F*** them, I don’t even care anymore.”
Bambie Thug emphasized the importance of community, love, power, and support in the Eurovision competition. They described the experience as “stressful” but acknowledged the impact of the collective efforts to drive change.
Irish premier Simon Harris congratulated Bambie Thug on their stunning performance, stating, “They performed with passion, stopped us in our tracks, and made us proud. The eruption of applause in the stadium at the end of Ireland’s performance spoke for itself.” Harris commended Switzerland on their win and Sweden for hosting another remarkable show. He also thanked Australia, Ireland’s closest musical ally in Europe, for their support.
The controversy surrounding Bambie Thug’s performance did not go unnoticed, as TV presenter Graham Norton highlighted the singer’s exceptional talent and production value. He tipped Bambie Thug to do extremely well in the competition.
Amid the tension, Bambie Thug appeared on stage with the words “crown the witch” in Ogham medieval script on their body, further fueling the controversy.
The dispute between Bambie Thug, Kan, and the EBU remains unresolved. Bambie’s complaints regarding Kan’s commentator breaking the rules of conduct during the Eurovision semi-final were confirmed but have yet to receive an official response from the EBU.
As tensions continue to rise, the EBU and Kan have been contacted for further comment on the matter.
