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Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Eurovision under fire after 'bosses cover Israel booing with fake applause'
The Eurovision Song Contest has been plagued by controversy over Israel's participation in the annual event, with many calling for them to exclude them The Eurovision Song Contest has been criticised after it reportedly covered the sounds of the audience booing controversial entrant Yuval Raphael's performance for Israel by adding fake applause. It has been said that the competition's bosses drowned out the sounds of booing when she performed New Day Will Rise for a rehearsal on Friday night. The singing competition has been plagued by controversy over Israel's participation in the annual event. Just last week, over 70 past Eurovision stars penned a letter demanding that the contest chiefs exclude Israel amid the country's ongoing bombardment of Palestine, which is seeing Palestinians starving to death due to a blockade of aid. Earlier this month, Israel announced plans to capture the entire Gaza Strip and drive hundreds of thousands into the South. Meanwhile, Palestinians are starving to death amid a two-month aid block. All food, water, medical aid and shelter supplies into the Strip have been blocked since early March amid growing fears that 65,000 children are suffering from severe malnutrition. Amnesty International. Reports suggest that over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, with more than a third being under 18. Fans shared their annoyance at Israel's performances being drowned out or dubbed with cheers in posts shared on Twitter /X. One fan posted: 'I have a huge issue with the EBU silencing the booing during Israel's performance and adding fake cheers to make it sound like there's a positive reception from the audience. 'EBU is a public service broadcaster whose purpose is to serve the public, not to silence them.' Another fan argued: 'Why do you mute the audience's boos and replace them with fake applause effects? Where are your ethical values?' Former Eurovision acts have demanded that Israel not be allowed to compete over the country's 'genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza and the decades-long regime of apartheid and military occupation against the entire Palestinian people.' The letter, published on Artists For Palestine, was signed by former winners Ireland's Charlie McGettigan and Portugal's Fernando Tordo, as well as British singer Mae Muller and French singer La Zarra. It was also signed by two of last year's competitors Ásdís María and GÅTE. On Thursday's semi-final, footage picked up boos from the audience when Israel's entry appeared on screen. The boos were more audible on social media footage of the performance. Despite the protests and calls for Israel to not be allowed in the final, Yuval secured her spot following the public vote.
Irish Times
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Eurovision Song Contest: How are organisers reacting to criticisms of Israel?
It's Eurovision season but the event is mired in controversy over Israel. What's going on? The 69th annual Eurovision Song Contest takes place next week in Basle, Switzerland , beginning on Tuesday, with the first semi-final, before the Saturday grand finale. With a TV audience in the hundreds of millions, the event is one of the biggest in showbiz. Ireland 's entrant is Norwegian singer Emmy Kristine Guttulsrud Kristiansen , stage name Emmy, who will appear in the second semi-final on Thursday. Not for the first time, war in Gaza has prompted criticism of Israel 's participation. What's the background? Yuval Raphael is due to sing a ballad, New Day Will Rise, for Israel. She is also scheduled to appear in the second semi-final. The 24-year-old survived the Hamas attack on Israel of October 23rd, 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage. She was at the Nova music festival near Gaza, where 360 young people were killed; she hid for hours under dead bodies in a bomb shelter and received a shrapnel wound. Israel's war on Gaza soon followed; more than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed. Israel plans a big escalation of its military campaign in the Palestinian territory. What are critics saying? A group called Artists for Palestine wants the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), organiser of the Eurovision, to expel Israeli public broadcaster Kan because of the war. 'By continuing to platform the representation of the Israeli state, the EBU is normalising and whitewashing its crimes,' said a letter signed by 70 former contestants. 'The EBU has already demonstrated that it is capable of taking measures, as in 2022, when it expelled Russia from the competition. We don't accept this double standard regarding Israel.' Signatories include Charlie McGettigan , winner for Ireland of the 1994 contest with Paul Harrington. (They sang Rock 'n' Roll Kids). READ MORE Is there more? RTÉ journalists voted to ask the national broadcaster to oppose Israel's participation, citing moves against Israel by broadcasters in Iceland, Slovenia and Spain. RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst later called for EBU discussions : 'I am appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages.' What did Eurovision chiefs say? They pushed back, claiming no national broadcaster 'publicly opposed' Israeli participation. Eurovision director Martin Green said the EBU was maintaining an 'inclusive stance' towards Israel. 'The broadcasters mentioned in the [NUJ] letter, RTVE in Spain and RTVSLO in Slovenia, requested a discussion and RÚV in Iceland has informed us of their foreign minister's comments on Kan's participation.' Is that the end of it? Unlikely. Israel's 2024 entrant Eden Golan was booed at the dress rehearsal in Malmo, Sweden, and confined to her hotel room when not performing because of threats. She finished fifth.
