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Irish Eurovision entry Bambie Thug has described their decision not to boycott this year’s competition over Israel’s controversial participation as “bittersweet” and “incredibly heavy”.
The Cork singer is set to represent Ireland at the Eurovision in Malmo, Sweden in a few weeks and they performed a piano-based alternative version of their song Doomsday Blue on Friday’s Late Late Show.
Malmo here we come!#latelate #Eurovision2024 pic.twitter.com/2mB6YQT3gT
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) April 19, 2024
There have been growing calls to boycott this year’s Eurovision over Israel’s war in Gaza but Bambie Thug stands by their decision to take part in the show.
Speaking to host Late Late host Patrick Kielty, the London-based singer said: “I stand with anyone doing the boycott. I think if I wasn’t in the competition, I would also be boycotting. There are a lot of moving parts.
They added: “At the end of the day, without the group of us who is pro-Palestine, it is less competition for the other side to win and it’s less of solidarity there. Obviously it’s incredibly heavy and I am extremely behind everybody.”
Bambie also said they were disappointed that Eurovision organisers are letting Israel take part despite global outrage about the country’s actions in Gaza and the fact that Russia were banned from the competition following their invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“We all meet up and had chats about it and we just couldn’t stay silent on the matter,” they said.
“At the end of the day, it’s the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) who has to make the decision, and, unfortunately in my eyes, they’re not making the right decision. So yeah, it’s bittersweet, the whole thing.”
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