Eurovision鈥檚 Non-Binary Contestants Have Called Out The Contest & Its Organisers
Image: Photo: BambieThug/Instagram
Two Eurovision contestants, including this year鈥檚 winner Nemo, have fired shots at the song contest and its organiser, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
厂飞颈迟锄别谤濒补苍诲鈥檚 , said they thought that Eurovision might 鈥渘eed a little bit of fixing鈥�.
鈥淚 hope this contest can live up to its promise and continue to stand for peace and dignity for every person in this world,鈥� they said on stage after their historic win.
Speaking at a press conference afterwards, Nemo dedicated their win to “everyone out there who’s non-binary, gender fluid, transgender”.
“Just people, people that are daring to be themselves and people that need to be heard and need to be understood,” they said. “We need more compassion, we need more empathy.”
Reporters asked Nemo what they thought about their fans allegedly being removed for holding up non-binary flags.
“That is unbelievable,” Nemo said.
“I had to smuggle my flag in because Eurovision said no, and I did it anyway, so I hope some other people did that too.
“I broke the code and I broke the trophy. Maybe the trophy can be fixed,鈥� they said, referencing the fact they accidentally broke their thumb and the Eurovision trophy.
鈥淢aybe Eurovision needs a little bit of fixing too.”
Graham saying 鈥渄ont break the trophy鈥� followed by the clink of Eurovision 2024 winner Nemo smashing the trophy is iconic
鈥� Louie Rowe (@louierowe_)
Ireland’s Bambie Thug says ‘F*ck the EBU’
Nemo wasn鈥檛 the only contestant to call out Eurovision since the 2024 competition’s end 鈥� Ireland鈥檚 contestant Bambie Thug has, too.
Bambie Thug was one of the contest鈥檚 more controversial acts, with .听
During the competition, the Irish singer took to social media to speak about being forced to remove the words 鈥榗easefire鈥� and 鈥榝reedom for Palestine鈥� from their costume due to Eurovision鈥檚 regulations around political neutrality.听
A TikTok (which has since been deleted) showed Bambie鈥檚 reaction to the decision, saying: 鈥淚t鈥檚 fucked up鈥�.
But the singer has spoken out more directly post-competition, calling out the EBU in a press conference and saying this year鈥檚 contest was 鈥渟o hard and so horrible鈥�.
(For context, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is the organiser of the Eurovision Song Contest, and only countries with an active membership in the European Broadcasting Union can compete. This is actually why Australia competes, because Australia鈥檚 broadcaster SBS has a deal with the EBU.)
鈥淚鈥檓 so proud of Nemo winning,鈥� said Bambie Thug in an emotional statement.听
鈥淚鈥檓 so proud that all of us are in the top 10 that have been fighting for this shit behind the scenes, because it has been so hard and so horrible for us. I鈥檓 so proud of us.
鈥淚 just want to say we are what the Eurovision is,鈥� they continued.
鈥淭he EBU is not what the Eurovision is. Fuck the EBU. I don鈥檛 even care anymore. Fuck them.听
鈥淭he thing that makes this is the contestants, the community behind it, the love and the power and the support of all of us is what is making change.鈥�
The Eurovision Song Contest and EBU are yet to respond to Nemo and Bambie Thug鈥檚 comments.
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