The winner of last year's Eurovision Song Contest, Nemo, has said they are returning their trophy in protest over Israel's continued participation in the event.
The 26-year-old Swiss singer said there is a "clear conflict" between Israel's involvement in the competition and the ideals of "unity, inclusion and dignity" the contest says it stands for.
Israel's presence at Eurovision has been an increasing source of tension, because of the war in Gaza and a voting controversy during this year's event.
Five countries - Iceland, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands - have announced they will boycott next year's event because Israel has been allowed to compete.
Israel has previously called the decision to keep it in the contest a "victory" over critics who had tried to silence it and spread hatred.
Nemo became the first non-binary performer to lift the Eurovision trophy with their song The Code, which is about the path to realising they were non-binary.
After the win, Nemo told the BBC about the challenges they faced during the contest and their feeling that organisers didn't do enough to support participants who were caught up in the row over Israel's inclusion in 2024.
So some religious fanatics in the Middle East are killing each others and Europes biggest LGBQT event is going down in flames?
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TaTTe @lemmy.world - 2min
Pretty much, because the organisers of this event won't follow their own rules and does anything and everything to keep the genociders participating.
To reiterate, the turmoil is not directly because of the genocide, but it's because EBU (the organisers) refuse to allow its members to even vote on whether Israel (who have constantly been breaking the rules in recent years) are allowed to participate, despite EBU's own rules clearly stating that such votings should be conducted.
The double standard is unbelievably biased and has permanently destroyed the contest's reputation.
Babalugats in europe @feddit.org
Eurovision winner Nemo to return trophy in protest of Israel
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q5504vv0koThe winner of last year's Eurovision Song Contest, Nemo, has said they are returning their trophy in protest over Israel's continued participation in the event.
The 26-year-old Swiss singer said there is a "clear conflict" between Israel's involvement in the competition and the ideals of "unity, inclusion and dignity" the contest says it stands for.
Israel's presence at Eurovision has been an increasing source of tension, because of the war in Gaza and a voting controversy during this year's event.
Five countries - Iceland, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands - have announced they will boycott next year's event because Israel has been allowed to compete.
Israel has previously called the decision to keep it in the contest a "victory" over critics who had tried to silence it and spread hatred.
Nemo became the first non-binary performer to lift the Eurovision trophy with their song The Code, which is about the path to realising they were non-binary.
After the win, Nemo told the BBC about the challenges they faced during the contest and their feeling that organisers didn't do enough to support participants who were caught up in the row over Israel's inclusion in 2024.
Continue reading here - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q5504vv0ko
So some religious fanatics in the Middle East are killing each others and Europes biggest LGBQT event is going down in flames?
Pretty much, because the organisers of this event won't follow their own rules and does anything and everything to keep the genociders participating.
To reiterate, the turmoil is not directly because of the genocide, but it's because EBU (the organisers) refuse to allow its members to even vote on whether Israel (who have constantly been breaking the rules in recent years) are allowed to participate, despite EBU's own rules clearly stating that such votings should be conducted.
The double standard is unbelievably biased and has permanently destroyed the contest's reputation.