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Metro
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
These are the biggest controversies in Eurovision history
Love it or hate it, the Eurovision Song Contest has produced some of the most memorable TV moments over the years. It is one of the most-watched TV events of the year, with 163million people tuning in over the three live shows in 2024. This year, viewers can expect to see Remember Monday's UK Eurovision entry as well as the current favourite to win, Sweden's KAJ, take to the stage in Basel, Switzerland, where the contest is being held after Nemo's win with The Code last year. The competition is a very special date in the diary for dedicated fans, but some of them will not be tuning in this year. Since Eurovision is refusing to ban Israel from the contest, given the ongoing war in Gaza, a lot of loyal viewers have decided to boycott the event, which has even led to Israel's rehearsals being disrupted by protests. However, this is not the first time the contest has found itself in murky waters… Last year's Israel act, Eden Golan, was originally due to perform a song titled October Rain at the 2024 contest. However, the Israeli Eurovision team changed the lyrics and the title of the song following furious backlash. The song, which was later renamed Hurricane, was thought to reference the Hamas attacks, with lyrics including, 'There's no air left to breathe,' and 'They were all good children, each one of them'. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which runs Eurovision, maintains still that the contest is non-political, as they can disqualify entries that breach that rule. After initially pledging not to amend the lyrics, Israeli broadcaster Kan eventually agreed to make changes to the song at the request of the country's President, Isaac Herzog, so that Israel could still compete in last year's contest. But many remained unhappy with Israel's inclusion, with more than 2,000 musicians in Finland, Iceland and Sweden signing separate open letters calling for Israel to be banned from the competition due to its ongoing war in Gaza. Elsewhere, 450 queer artists, individuals, and organisations signed an open letter asking UK act Olly Alexander to withdraw over the war. Responding to the calls, Olly, along with other entrants in the contest, shared a statement reading: 'In light of the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and particularly in Gaza, and in Israel, we do not feel comfortable being silent. It is important to us to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and communicate our heartfelt wish for peace, an immediate lasting ceasefire, and the safe return of all hostages. 'We stand united against all forms of hate, including antisemitism and islamophobia.' It continued: 'We firmly believe in the unifying power of music, enabling people to transcend differences and foster meaningful conversations and connections. 'We feel it is our duty to create and uphold this space, with a strong hope that it will inspire greater compassion and empathy.' Eurovision 2021's winners Maneskin have gone on to great things since their victory at the contest in Rotterdam, shifting millions of albums, headlining sell-out world tours and even picking up a Grammy nomination along the way. However, the Italian rock band's triumph was marred after footage began spreading online of singer Damiano David bending towards the green room table during the voting on the night, leading many to speculate he was using cocaine. Damiano vehemently denied the allegations, explaining he had bent down to examine a broken glass on the table – and later cleared his name of any wrongdoing after taking a voluntary blood test which returned negative. The EBU confirmed this at the time, saying: 'No drug use took place in the green room and we consider the matter closed. 'We are alarmed that inaccurate speculation leading to fake news has overshadowed the spirit and the outcome of the event and unfairly affected the band.' While Damiano understandably admitted at the time that he felt 'really offended' by the accusations, the band couldn't help referencing it when they performed their track Supermodel at the 2022 contest in Turin. Following their powerful performance, Damiano was asked to give that year's contestants advice, to which he quipped: 'Two things. Have fun and don't get close to the table, guys.' While Eurovision 2021 had no shortage of participants, with 39 lining up to take part, one country that didn't appear on the Rotterdam stage was Belarus. Though they had planned to take part, revealing their song, Ya Nauchu Tebya, by Galasy ZMesta, they fell foul of the EBU after it transpired the song breached the rules banning lyrics of a political nature. Controversial lines in the song included 'I'll teach you to toe the line', which was believed to be mocking the country's protests against President Alexander Lukashenko. The band were given the chance to modify the lyrics or submit an alternative song, but the amended version was also deemed to be unsuitable, leading to them being disqualified from the contest, and depriving us of the chance to see whether they could have landed Belarus their first-ever Eurovision victory. Icelandic act Hatari had already created a bit of a splash at Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv with their song Hatrid Mun Sigra, aka Hate Will Prevail – a shouty industrial anthem about as far removed from the contest's big ballads and colourful dance bangers as it was possible to get. But they really caused a stir when, after their points from the public were awarded, the cameras turned to them in the green room holding up banners in support of Palestine. While the band later admitted it was their 'main reason' for taking part in the contest, it was less popular with the EBU, who fined Iceland's broadcasters €5,000 (£4,200) for breaking the contest's no politics rule. Ukraine's national final in 2019 brought with it a serious contender in the shape of Maruv's Siren Song – all sultry vocals and big party trumpets, accompanied by a seriously sexy dance routine. Unsurprisingly, Maruv was a hot favourite for the ticket to Tel Aviv, and won their national final – only to be dropped by the local broadcaster after she refused to sign a contract temporarily barring her from playing in Russia. Undeterred, broadcaster UA:PBC approached the runners-up to offer them the chance to represent Ukraine, but they refused too. When the second runners-up also said no, they were left with no choice but to pull out of the contest completely – leaving us all wondering what might have been if Maruv had had her moment on the Eurovision stage. The song, meanwhile, lives on as a favourite at Eurovision parties, with many a fan taking to the floor quite literally in a bid to recreate those saucy moves. Speaking of Ukraine, the country was involved in another controversial moment when the contest to Kyiv in 2017, leaving everybody wondering whether Russia would take part, given the ongoing conflict between the two countries. Sure enough, they decided they would, unexpectedly unveiling former Russian X Factor contestant Julia Samoylova as their entrant, with the song Flame Is Burning. All appeared well until it transpired that Julia had previously performed in Crimea – a big no-no as far as Ukraine was concerned, leading to her being banned from actually entering the country. All of which led to Russia ultimately pulling out of the contest altogether that year. It wasn't all bad news for Julia, who got her moment on the Eurovision stage when she represented Russia in Lisbon in 2018. Sadly, her song I Won't Break failed to qualify for the semi-final, making her the only Russian participant to date to miss out on a final place. As we've now learnt, political grandstanding is always frowned upon at Eurovision, and Armenia discovered this with a certain green room gesture in 2016. Singer Iveta Mukuchyan landed the nation in hot water during the first semi-final when she waved a flag of the hotly-disputed region Nagorno-Karabakh, which has been at the centre of an unresolved dispute with Azerbaijan for years. Cue rapped knuckles all round, with Armenia being sanctioned by the EBU and warned they could be kicked out of the contest if they did it again. The Union said in a statement that the move represented a 'serious breach' of the rule stating that 'no messages promoting any organisation, institution, political cause or other, company, brand, products or services shall be allowed in the shows'. Iveta said at the time: 'You don't have to forget that I am representing my country in my heart, my thoughts my feelings and all my emotions. My thoughts are with my motherland and what I want to spread is peace on borders. I wrote this song because this was going on inside of me'. But the controversy didn't harm her chances at the contest too much, as she reached the final and finished seventh with a very respectable 249 points. Romania has been a stalwart of Eurovision since 1994, having participated in the show 22 times. And although they're still waiting for that first victory, they've come close on a number of occasions, reaching the top three in 2005 and 2010. However, things went horribly wrong for them in 2016 when they were kicked out of the contest in Sweden just weeks before the show, after national broadcaster TVR failed to make payments to the EBU that dated as far back as 2007. This couldn't have been any worse for singer Ovidiu Anton, who had already been chosen to represent the country in Stockholm with his rock ballad Moment of Silence – and had even been busy promoting it on the pre-contest party circuit. While it was thought at the time Romania might be gone for a while, it seems the dispute was settled as they returned to the Eurovision stage the following year, finishing seventh with the oddly memorable Yodel It! The 2013 contest in Malmö, Sweden, introduced us to Finland's Krista Siegfrieds and her song Marry Me – with its 'ding-dong' heavy lyrics and Krista taking to the stage in a wedding dress. Given the contest's reputation for stage gimmicks and OTT outfits, this was textbook Eurovision – except Krista decided to shake things up thoroughly by kissing one of her female backing dancers during the performance as a protest against same-sex marriage not being legal in Finland at that time. Cue ruffled feathers from the likes of Turkey, who scrapped plans to screen the semi-final and final (despite not taking part in the contest that year), and China, who censored the moment in question. Not that any of the fuss made much difference to Finland's final score, with Krista finishing a lowly 24th in the final with just 13 points. Speaking of political controversies, Georgia found themselves embroiled in one in 2009 with their attempt to send a disco number by band Stefane and 3G in the aftermath of the Russo-Georgian war. The song, entitled We Don't Wanna Put In, was hauled up by the EBU for its clearly political lyrics taking a pop at Russian president Vladimir Putin (read the title again if you want to see what we mean). Georgia was given the chance to field an alternative song but chose to withdraw from the contest altogether that year, once again leaving us wondering what might have been if they'd taken part. The song, however, is still widely available on YouTube for those who want to see what the fuss is all about. Ireland is known for its spectacular record when it comes to Eurovision, having won the contest seven times – the same number as Sweden, meaning the two nations are neck-and-neck for the country that has won Eurovision the most times. However, it's been a long time since those halcyon days when the nation notched up four victories in the space of five years between 1992 and 1996. And things took a bizarre turn in 2008 when, having finished last in the previous year's final, the Irish public overwhelmingly voted to send children's TV puppet star Dustin the Turkey to the contest in Belgrade. Dustin's selection might have been a hit with viewers, but it was less popular elsewhere, with former Irish winner Dana suggesting the country would be better pulling out of Eurovision altogether than sending the character. There were even debates over whether the song, a parody entitled Irlande Douze Points, might breach contest rules, given that such lyrics about 'drag acts and bad acts and Terry Wogan's wig' might bring the contest into disrepute. Nonetheless, Dustin took to the stage in Belgrade – to a chorus of boos from the audience – and promptly crashed out at semi-final stage with just 22 points. And despite making a respectable return to the left-hand side of the scoreboard with Jedward in 2011, Ireland are still waiting for that eighth victory. This one wasn't actually from the contest itself, but came as the United Kingdom was choosing its entrant for the 2007 contest in Helsinki. Having been whittled down to the final two – Scooch's saucy airline anthem Flying The Flag (For You), and balladeer Cyndi's I'll Leave My Heart, the late great Terry Wogan had the job of announcing which act had won the ticket to Finland. Cue a moment of extreme awkwardness in which he announced Cyndi had won, with Scooch already congratulating her before co-host Fearne Cotton announced that Wogan had got it wrong and that they were in fact the winners. Of course, given that Scooch ended up scoring just 19 points in the 2007 final – 12 of which came from Malta – we have been left to wonder to this day whether Cyndi might have done any better. The 2006 contest in Athens might have hit the headlines on account of Finland's Lordi – the first act ever to win Eurovision with a rock song – but Iceland also grabbed their share of attention thanks to their act, the infamous Silvia Night. Silvia – actually a character created by actress Agusta Eva Erlandsdottir – was aiming to nab the nation their first-ever contest win with her song Congratulations, a catchy little tune all about how she was bound to win because she was better than all the other contestants. Unfortunately for all concerned, Erlandsdottir remained in character throughout her time in Athens and proceeded to upset a whole lot of people, from journalists covering the contest whom she referred to as 'f*****g amateurs' (even having her 'bodyguard' carry one of them out of her press conference) through to spreading scandalous rumours about Sweden's contestant Carola. All of which led to her being booed as she took to the stage in the semi-final. But she didn't stop there, lashing out at Carola, Lordi and the Netherlands' act Treble after her OTT performance failed to win her a place in the final. She also took her frustrations out on the press, telling one journalist: 'I will sue you, and I will sue the competition, and you will all go to jail!' Oh dear. The 1991 contest in Rome is legendary for all the wrong reasons. There's the fact the entire production moved from San Remo to the Italian capital at short notice on account of the war in Iraq, as well as chaotic voting which saw presenter Toto Cutugno looking lost and puzzled half the time. However, the controversy really came when the whole thing ended in a dead heat between France's Amina – whose song C'est Le Dernier Qui a Parlé Qui a Raison was regarded as one of the best in contest history – and Sweden's Carola with her upbeat number Fångad Av En Stormvind. Under normal circumstances, the act which had the most 'douze points' votes would take the title. But when it turned out both countries had equal numbers of those too – having received four apiece – the outcome was eventually decided on the number of 10 points received by each. With five to Amina's two, Carola was declared the winner and the contest went to Sweden in 1992, denying France their first win since 1977. Israel has notched up four Eurovision victories since it began taking part – but those haven't come without controversy of their own. Back in 1978, when it became apparent that Izhar Cohen and Alphabeta were on course to take the title with A-Ba-Ni-Bi, Jordanian television promptly pulled the broadcast, instead showing viewers footage of a bunch of daffodils before later announcing that second-placed Belgium had actually won the contest. Fast forward 20 years to the contest in Birmingham, where Dana International – Israel's 1998 participant and Eurovision's first ever transgender winner – caused so much controversy among more conservative religious groups back in Israel that she needed to have police escorts and security on hand during her time in the UK at the contest. Despite being one of the longest-ever participants in Eurovision, Belgium has only ever won the contest once, with Sandra Kim's J'Aime La Vie back in 1986. But the act caused a minor stir after it was revealed Sandra was in fact just 13 years old, not 16 as had been reported at the time. Switzerland, who had finished second, subsequently petitioned to have the song disqualified. But they were unsuccessful and, to this date, Sandra remains the youngest ever contest winner. She will likely remain so given that the minimum age for taking part has since been raised to 16. Portugal's entry at the 1974 contest, the ballad E Depois do Adeus by Paulo de Carvalho, didn't make much impact on the actual scoreboard, scoring just three points to finish joint last. Nonetheless, it still achieved notoriety after it was revealed as one of two signals to start the country's Carnation Revolution, against Marcelo Caetano's authoritarian Estado Novo regime – a coup which later led to the country becoming a democracy. More Trending To date, it remains the only Eurovision entry ever to start a revolution – that we know of, at least. The Eurovision 2025 Grand Final airs tonight at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. View More » This article was first published on May 1, 2024. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: UK Eurovision icon reveals secret to winning contest and it doesn't involve singing MORE: Who is hosting Eurovision 2025? Everything you need to know about Michelle Hunziker MORE: How do you vote in the Eurovision final and how much does it cost?
Metro
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
How Eurovision can address the controversy over Israel
There's nothing quite like Eurovision, is there? As a lifelong fan and annual party host, I love the contest for more than its spectacle. It embodies the belief that Europe should never again be divided. Like the European Union, Eurovision was born in the aftermath of the Second World War. It was partially designed to reunite a fractured continent through the shared language of song. Over the decades, some have criticised Eurovision as tabloid trash or overly political, particularly regarding bloc voting. But beyond these critiques, it remains a cultural institution watched by hundreds of millions, united by a mission to bring Europe together. Today, however, the contest faces a critical crossroads far graver than any of that. Sparked by Russia's illegal war in Ukraine – and subsequent exile, a move that prompted Putin to start his own contest – and followed by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there is a swelling of debate that risks overshadowing its founding ethos. Fans are, once again, fiercely debating Israel's participation in Eurovision, and this year, I believe I have a solution. Despite the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) banning Russia after its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Israel remained in the line-up, leading many to boycott the competition. In the run-up, organisers declared Israel's entry politically charged and forced a rename and rewrite from October Rain to Hurricane. Protests in the host city of Malmö, Sweden, became so unmanageable that a ban on any country's flag that wasn't participating – including Palestine's – was introduced, a move they publicly rowed back on this week. Meanwhile, backstage friction reached boiling point when, just minutes before one of the world's most-watched shows was due to begin, Dutch artist Joost Klein – an outspoken critic of Israel – was inexplicably disqualified. It should come as no surprise, then, that introducing this year's Israeli artist as a 'Hamas survivor' has sparked yet another fierce debate. Israel's entrant this year is 24-year-old Yuval Raphael, the winner of a talent show that doubles as the country's Eurovision selection. Raphael was at the Nova music festival on October 7 when Hamas gunmen stormed the site; she spent eight hours crammed into a shelter with more than 50 others as grenades reined in. Only 11 people made it out alive. Raphael dedicated her competition performance to the victims of that day. No one questions the unspeakable horror Raphael endured. The debate is whether her very presence on the Eurovision stage – chosen because she survived that attack – crosses from performance into politics. Some insist it doesn't; surviving terrorism shouldn't make anyone a political figure. Others argue that, in this context, it inevitably does – and that's where this year's dilemma lies. Since the announcement, fans have shared their thoughts on social media. 'What next?' one response read, 'UK has an IRA survivor? Ireland has a survivor of the British military?' Another scathing comment suggested that 'her recognition lies in surviving a terrible attack, not her musical quality.' All of this is against the backdrop of Israel being allowed to compete in the first place, along with the contest's major sponsors, which includes the Israeli company Moroccanoil. Excluding Russia but not Israel – who recommenced ground operations in Gaza despite an agreed ceasefire – feels inconsistent with Eurovision's aim of uniting people across borders and cultures. Of course, nothing about global conflicts is simple, and comparing Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine with Israel's longstanding tensions in Gaza is difficult. On October 7, 2023, Hamas – designated a terrorist organisation by many countries, including the United Kingdom – launched a large-scale assault on southern Israel, killing civilians and taking hostages. Israel responded with a major bombing campaign in Gaza, escalating a humanitarian crisis that dates back generations, when it took control of the Palestinian territories. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Israel's record on Ukraine isn't blemish-free either. In a key United Nations vote, Israel opposed a resolution condemning Russia's unprovoked invasion and calling for Ukraine's territorial integrity. Russia's unprovoked invasion and Israel's role in Gaza are not identical situations, but if both clash with Eurovision's ideals of peace and international cooperation, then either both should be excluded, or Israel's presence must be placed in context. The complexities have left fans torn. It's a delicate situation, but I think I have a delicate solution. It rests on the contest's tradition of postcard videos – short features shown before each live performance that showcases the country's culture and performer's story. Each nation gets one – this year, it's time to add one more. There must be a postcard from Palestine – a voice from Gaza, adding crucial context and exposing the humanitarian crisis. More than 50,000 Palestinians have been reported killed; food is scarce, and doctors say they are running out of basic supplies, blood, and even workable operating theatres. The Red Cross now warns Gaza is on the edge of a complete medical shutdown. This isn't about deciding who suffers more; it's about honouring Eurovision's founding goal: Bringing people together through music, even if that means confronting uncomfortable truths. Over many years, Eurovision has united people in ways few events can, but this row risks eroding its soul. Wherever you look, Eurovision has a remarkable ability to kickstart global conversations, transcending any barrier when we truly embrace it. Dana International's 1998 victory as the first trans artist sparked a vital discussion; 2014 winner Conchita Wurst influenced a United Nations debate on human rights, and Serbia's 2007 triumph marked its first international recognition as an independent nation. In 2022, we saw the contest at its best: Sam Ryder's unforgettable second-place performance renewed British optimism as Ukraine claimed victory despite unimaginable adversity. The following year, the UK hosted the contest in Liverpool on Ukraine's behalf. It was the first time a winning country could not host for security reasons, and though far from ideal, it was a profound and powerful show of pan-European solidarity. Every detail – from the stage design and half-time performers to the merchandise and on-screen graphics – was an unapologetically proud tribute to Ukrainian culture and resilience. It was Britain at its absolute best. The point is that, throughout its history, Eurovision has been the glittering backdrop for a deeper mission: Healing our continent and uniting our nations. However, the EBU's current stance is inconsistent, unjustifiable, and unsustainable. If one nation's pain is spotlighted, the other's must also be recognised. Otherwise, the contest risks becoming a forum for selective political storytelling to hundreds of millions amid a full-scale war. More Trending Eurovision's noble origins almost 70 years ago were to give hope to a continent rebuilding itself after half a decade of war and ensure those horrors never happen again. Since then, it has introduced the world to some of the biggest artists of all time – perhaps you've heard of Céline Dion? Or ABBA, Cliff Richard, and Lordi? Loreen, Julio Iglesias (yes, father to Enrique!) or Olivia Newton-John? But the contest's true power goes beyond spine-tingling voices, jaw-dropping pyrotechnics, or dazzling costumes; it lies in its ability to unite our continent. As Europe faces its greatest threat since the Second World War, we need that unity more than ever. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: Why are countries not in Europe allowed to compete at Eurovision? MORE: Eurovision stars Remember Monday: 'We're not everyone's cup of tea – that's fine' MORE: I'm a Eurovision superfan – here's how to sound like a pro at your watch party
Metro
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Eurovision is a 'political beast' – even the show's bosses can't tame it
'The special thing about Eurovision is that it's the one night of the year where people, in theory, put aside their differences and share that stage.' That's what Paul Jordan, also known as 'Doctor Eurovision', tells Metro when asked about Eurovision's non-political nature. Jordan is a lifelong fan and expert, having worked behind the scenes and served on international juries. 'But it's unrealistic to expect it to be seen as a non-political event. It's important they try to keep it that way, but ultimately, politics comes into it,' he adds. Despite the Eurovision Song Contest's official stance as a non-political event, the contest has long been steeped in geopolitical drama. From Jordan (the country) refusing to announce Israel as the winner in 1978 to host country Ukraine banning the Russian contestant in 2017, Eurovision is no stranger to controversies. Last year was no different, with Israel forced to change their entry, originally titled 'October Rain', over links to the October 7 Hamas attacks. Still, many remained unhappy with the country's inclusion in the contest. Pro-Palestine protesters clashed with riot police outside the Eurovision venue in Malmö, Sweden, as the contest took place. This year, host country Switzerland is banning artists from taking Pride flags on stage, only allowing national flags in official areas. Pride flags have been a staple at the contest in previous years, and this change marks the latest point of tension in Eurovision's ongoing challenge to reconcile cultural celebration with political reality. This begs the question: can Eurovision ever truly be non-political? Martin Green, director of the Eurovision Song Contest, is not naive to the challenge. 'Everything takes place in the context of a wider world, and we're not immune to that,' he exclusively tells Metro. This is the first year Eurovision introduced a Code of Conduct, reaffirming the 'proud tradition of celebrating diversity through music', adding that the event must remain free from political influence. While on event premises, promoting, carrying, or wearing any political material is prohibited, and no lyrics of a political nature are allowed. Additionally, all participating broadcasters are responsible for ensuring the Eurovision Song Contest isn't politicised. Performances are also forbidden from including messages, speeches, gestures, symbols or slogans of a political nature. The key challenge for Eurovision, Paul Jordan says, is staying consistent. 'A song about world peace, technically, could be seen as political. So what is political and what isn't is a very blurred area. But Eurovision hasn't helped itself by allowing some political songs and saying no to others.' Looking back at 2009, Georgia was forced to withdraw from the contest for refusing to change the lyrics to their entry 'We Don't Wanna Put In', which took aim at Russian President Vladimir Putin a year after the Russo-Georgian war. In contrast, Ukraine's winning song in 2016 about the deportation of the Crimean Tatars was allowed, and its triumph angered Russian politicians. Jordan believes that 'if Eurovision hadn't been held in Moscow in 2009, Georgia's song probably would have been allowed. So a lot of it depends on context and timing'. He adds of the Ukrainian tune: 'It was ambiguous enough that you couldn't say for sure whether they were talking about Russia or the Soviets.' Green says the first port of call after a rule break is to try and resolve it simply through a conversation with the participants. 'But like any big competition in the world, we do have a set of rules that we can refer to, if we have to,' he says. The Code of Conduct states that serious rule breaks can lead to 'immediate removal' from the event and, depending on the severity of the misconduct, 'legal action may also be pursued', including slapping a fine for the country's broadcaster. Despite the risk of punishment, many performers have defied the Eurovision rules over the years, the access to a mass audience presenting a unique opportunity some feel they must seize. 'It was always our main reason for entering – to make awareness of the occupation of Palestinian territories and the pinkwashing that was taking place,' said Icelandic act Hatari. The group caused a stir in 2019 when they held up banners in support of Palestine during the results. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) later fined Iceland's broadcasters €5,000 (roughly £4,200). Elsewhere, Armenian singer Iveta Mukuchyan landed her country in hot water during a semi-final in 2016, when she waved the flag of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region at the centre of a decades-long dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenia was sanctioned by the EBU and warned they could be kicked out of the contest if they did it again. Singer Iveta said at the time: 'I am representing my country in my heart, my thoughts my feelings and all my emotions. My thoughts are with my motherland and what I want to spread is peace on borders. I wrote this song because this was going on inside of me'. It's not just the performers who have been known to bring politics to Eurovision. Last year Israel was drowned out by boos and chants of 'Free Palestine', shown in footage posted to social media by attendees. These protests went unnoticed by viewers at home, however, with some claiming anti-booing technology was used. The technology was first employed in 2015, one year after Russia's act was repeatedly booed while performing, with then-Eurovision communications coordinator Jarmo Siim telling The Moscow Times: 'It was very embarrassing for us last year when this happened, as it is not in the spirit of the contest'. But it's yet another area where Eurovision is caught between a rock and a hard place. Paul Jordan tells Metro: 'By using this technology, that's almost making a political choice. But then, Eurovision has a duty of care to the artists to give them all an equal opportunity. 'So, they're suppressing freedom of expression, but, at the same time, it's really unfair on the artist to be horribly booed. It's a really complex, double-edged thing.' While freedom of expression is respected as 'a fundamental right', according to the Eurovision code of conduct, participants can only express themselves freely in a personal capacity, but must avoid linking political views to their Eurovision participation. More Trending 'Eurovision tries to create something which is unique, which is apolitical, and yet to do that, it has to suppress freedom of expression, which is one of the core values,' says Jordan. For him, this is a lose-lose situation. 'It has to, at some point, just acknowledge that there are going to be elements of politics coming in.' But the hijacking of a politically neutral event isn't exclusive to Eurovision. The 2022 FIFA World Cup, held in Qatar, was criticised because of the country's alleged violations of human rights. The same year, several countries, including the UK, declared a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing due to alleged atrocities against the Uyghur Muslim population in the northwest province of Xinjiang. Similar concerns have already been voiced after it was announced that Saudi Arabia will host the World Cup in 2034. Eurovision clearly isn't alone in its challenge, and perhaps political neutrality is impossible on an international stage. View More » As Paul Jordan says, 'These international events are, by their very existence, political beasts, even though they're not meant to be.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: One of Eurovision's most legendary stars 'still in talks for comeback' with days to go MORE: Who is Israel's 2025 Eurovision act Yuval Raphael? Singer who survived October 7 attack MORE: When is Eurovision 2025? Final date, UK entry, latest odds and more
Metro
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Who is Israel's 2025 Eurovision act Yuval Raphael? Singer who survived October 7
In October 2023, Yuval Raphael narrowly escaped with her life following the Nova music festival attack that killed 378 others. When Hamas terrorists launched a shocking ambush on attendees at the open-air music festival, the aspiring singer rushed to hide in a nearby kibbutz with 50 others. The group faced grenades being thrown inside, with Yuval one of just 11 survivors after being forced to hide under dead bodies for eight hours. Now the 24-year-old is representing Israel at next weekend's Eurovision Song Contest with her song New Day Will Rise. Just 18 months after Yuval was caught up in the shocking attack of October 7, she's now set to take to the stage. Yuval's inclusion in the Eurovision line-up comes at a time when there are ongoing calls for Israel to be cut from the competition due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza between the country and Hamas. Last year, there were calls to boycott Eurovision over Israel's participation, while acts from Ireland, Finland, Sweden and the UK called for the country to be banned. At the same time, Israel's 2024 act Eden Golan was also forced to change the title of her song October Rain, which included lyrics about Hamas' attack that left 1200 dead. It was amended to Hurricane after officials said it breached rules about no political messaging being included in songs. During the 2024 contest, held in the Swedish city of Malmö, Golan faced death threats and was booed each time she performed. Yuval has spoken very little publicly about the messaging and meaning behind her track, but did explain it 'represents the healing that we all need and the optimism for the days ahead — our future'. Reflecting on how far she'd come, she's previously spoken about the shocking details of her survival. When the terrorists first attacked, Yuval was left with a broken leg but ran to safety. After making it to the bomb shelter, Yuval was on the phone to her distraught father, who listened as terrorists entered and shot everyone in sight. The following harrowing eight hours saw them return another 19 times to spray the shelter with bullets or throw in grenades. Before the phone cut out, Yuval had been told by her father to 'play dead' – advice that would save her life. Eventually, help arrived, and it was discovered that most of the 50 people who had sought refuge in the tiny four-square-metre concrete bunker had been killed. 'It had become the tomb for almost 40 souls seeking refuge with us,' she told the UN Human Rights Council in March last year. 'The physical injuries I sustained are healing, but the mental scars will stay with me forever.' Nearly two years on, Yuval, who still has shrapnel lodged in her head and leg from October 7, has said she isn't daunted by the backlash to Israel's inclusion again this year. 'I've been given another chance at life, so it's my duty to not be afraid – and to spread the light. I see it as an honour and a responsibility. I love my country, I love the Israeli people,' she told the Daily Mail. Born in Pedaya in central Israel, Yuval moved with her parents to Geneva when she was six, where they lived for three years. She began her professional singing career in 2024 when she took part in the TV talent show HaKokhav HaBa, which served as the selection for Israel's Eurovision act. Speaking about dealing with the opposition, she explained how she had 'the most amazing team behind me with all the tools to deal with this situation'. 'I am coming this year with an open heart and everything else is out of my control,' she added. In recent days, broadcasters from Iceland, Spain and Slovenia have voiced their opposition to Israel taking part. Last week, the European Broadcasting Union also overturned a ban on Palestinian flags at this year's competition. Despite protests being anticipated in Basel, the Swiss city hosting Eurovision 2025, Yuval said she wasn't concerned and was instead excited to return to Switzerland. 'I am excited, it's like a second home to me,' she said. Getting on stage was something Yuval was determined to do after she put herself forward to represent Israel, a decision even her therapist questioned after the trauma she faced not long before. Israel has competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 46 times since making its debut in 1973. It has won the contest four times – in 1978, 1979, 1998, and 2018. The most recent win was from Netta, who took out the win with her song Toy, with her 'chicken dance moves' also drawing plenty of attention. Just after her win was announced at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Netta told the Eurovision hosts: 'I'm so happy, thanks for choosing difference, thank you for celebrating diversity.' But she said music had 'helped me my entire life'. 'It's my safe place and this past year has been an integral part of my recovery, and I am so lucky to do it as a career.' More Trending Yuval is currently sitting as the fifth favourite to take out this year's title, explaining she was 'really focused on bringing the best performance I can'. 'I think my song has such a beautiful message. There is a phrase that says, 'Everyone cries, don't cry alone'. Let's all be united together – and spread the love,' she urged. View More » Eurovision 2025 airs on the BBC between May 13 and May 17. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. 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