Pro-Palestine Irish singer Bambie Thug row with Eurovision deepens

Bambie Thug has slammed the Eurovision Song Contest organisers, claiming they did not support them after Israeli TV branded their semi-final performance ‘Satanic’.

The ‘ouji pop’ star secured a sixth place finish in Ireland’s first grand final of the music event since 2018, one place behind Israel‘s Eden Golan, whose entry sparked anger from pro-Palestine protesters amid the war in Gaza.

Bambie, who has been outspoken about their pro-Palestine views, accused the Israeli broadcaster, Kan, of a rule break and said they have been waiting to hear back from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) about what action would be taken.

On Tuesday, a commentator on Kan warned viewers that Bambie’s performance of their song, Doomsday Blue, would be ‘the most scary’ of the night, involving ‘a lot of spells and black magic and dark clothing, Satanic symbols, and voodoo dolls’. He added that Bambie liked to ‘speak negatively about Israel’.

Bambie, who describes herself as a ‘queer witch’, told journalists in the press centre that Kan ‘incited violence against me twice, three times’, and that their team had brought it up to the EBU, but that the organiser had still not responded.

‘[The EBU] waited to the last minute, we still haven’t gotten statement back to us, allowed us to be scapegoats, allowed us to be the spokesperson for standing up for ourselves,’ Bambie said.

The dramatic development comes after Bambie missed their dress rehearsal, saying that a ‘situation’ required ‘urgent attention’ from the EBU but giving no further details. 

Bambie went on to say at the press conference: ‘Behind the scenes you don’t know the amount of pressure and the amount of work that we have been doing to change things and I’m so proud for Nemo for winning.

‘I just want to say we are what Eurovision, the EBU is not what the Eurovision, the EBU is what makes this, f*** them, the EBU I don’t even care anymore.’ 

‘I’m so proud that all of us are in the top 10 that have been fighting for this s*** behind the scenes. Because it’s been so hard and I’m so proud of us.’

They also called it ‘stressful’ and said what the makes the competition is the ‘the community behind it, the love and the power and the support of all of us is what is making change’.

They added of Kan: ‘The broadcaster has disobeyed the rules and I hope next year they won’t be able to compete because of that.’ 

The EBU said in a statement regarding the Kan commentary: ‘We’ve spoken to KAN, the Israeli broadcaster, about this matter and reiterated the importance of all commentators respecting all the artists taking part in the competition and abiding by the rules and regulations of the event.’ 

In what has been labelled the most chaotic contest in Eurovision history, Marina Satti of Greece and Nemo of Switzerland, who went on to win, missed the flag parade.

Satti sparked anger on Friday after she pretended to fall asleep while Israel’s Eden Golan was speaking at a press conference.

Then last night, she was reportedly among a group which included representatives from Greece, Ireland and Switzerland who had a disagreement with Itay Bezaleli, Golan’s stylist over being filmed. 

‘The Greek yelled at me, ‘Don’t film!’ and flipped me off,’ Bezaleli said in a now-deleted social media post, according to Ynet. ‘Even though I wasn’t the only one filming, she singled me out.’

Following the incident, Bezaleli was removed from the arena, the Israeli news site reports. He later returned to the event.

The Israeli broadcasting corporation reported that at the organizers’ request, ‘the Israeli delegation was moved to a different room within the delegation area.’

Israeli representatives reportedly said that the move was designed to distance their team from the Irish delegation, though it was not explained why.

Ireland attracted the top 12 point allocation from the Australian jury vote, as well as a 10 from the UK audience as part of a total of 136 from the overall audience vote, but ultimately failed to catch eventual winner Switzerland’s Nemo. 

Irish premier Simon Harris congratulated Bambie for a ‘stunning performance and tour de force at Eurovision 2024’.

‘They performed with passion, stopped us in our tracks and did us proud. The eruption of applause in the stadium at the end of Ireland’s performance spoke for itself,’ he said in a statement.

‘Congratulations to Switzerland on the win and well done to Sweden for hosting another showstopper. Thank you to our closest musical ally in Europe – Australia – for our only douze points!

‘It’s Bambie Thug’s night as far as we’re concerned.

‘Well done Bambie.’

Earlier, TV presenter Graham Norton, who is providing commentary for BBC coverage, said the singer, who performed with their song Doomsday Blue, is ‘tipped to do extremely well’.

He said: ‘I’m not a parent, but I might warn you that younger kids, I mean seriously, might find this next performance a little bit frightening.’

He added: ‘Bambie Thug, such a great performer and Ireland have done a very good job of production this year and this is tipped to do extremely well.’

Irish fans feared their act might not make it to the stage after they pulled out of the flag parade rehearsal.

Bambie took to Instagram yesterday to explain their reasons: ‘Dear Coven, There was a situation while we were waiting to go to stage for the flag parade rehearsal which I felt needed urgent attention from the EBU – the EBU have taken this matter seriously and we have been in a discussion about what action needs to be taken.

‘This means I have missed my dress rehearsal – I am really sorry to the fans that have come to see me.

‘I hope to see you on the stage tonight.’

Ireland’s entry went on to perform on Saturday evening, and appeared on stage with the words ‘crown the witch’, in Ogham medieval script, on their body.

The singer, who uses the pronouns they/them and has become the first Irish qualifier since 2018, has previously criticised Israel’s representative, Eden Golan, competing in the contest.

Ahead of the final, Bambie said in an Instagram story: ‘I have raised multiple complaints to the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) regarding instances I have experienced this week.

‘Earlier today they confirmed to my delegation in front of others that Kan’s commentator had broken the rules of conduct during the Eurovision semi-final.

‘I have been patiently waiting to hear what action is set to be taken by the EBU following this rule break.

‘I have since seen a statement by EBU director-general Noel Curran which contradicts this earlier confirmation.

‘I am still waiting for an official update from the EBU.

‘I hope to see you on the stage tonight.’

In response, a spokesperson for the Israeli broadcaster Kan said: ‘We wish everyone the best of luck tonight.’

The organisers of Eurovision said: ‘Bambie Thug did not perform in dress rehearsal three and the footage of their performance in dress rehearsal two was used in its place.

‘They missed the dress rehearsal due to a situation that is currently being discussed with the EBU and song contest organisers.’

Kan and the EBU has been contacted for comment.