Ireland's Eurovision Song Contest entry Bambie Thug has said they cried with their team after discovering Israel had qualified for the grand finale.
Israel's entry E den Golan qualified on Thursday for the final with her song Hurricane amid pro-Palestinian protests against the country being included in the event.
Bambie, who uses the pronouns they/them, wore a keffiyeh material, commonly used to suggest pro-Palestinian leanings, and carried Irish flags when they spoke to journalists ahead of the event at Malmo Arena in Sweden.
Asked how they felt when Golan qualified, the singer, who has become the first Irish entry to make the final since 2018, said: "I cried with my team."
Discussing Israel's inclusion, they added: "It is a complete overshadow of everything, goes against everything that Eurovision is meant to be. It's a big, big community together and their contestant was never allowed to even meet us. God forbid we have some conversation where minds might be changed. It's definitely putting a cloud above it for everyone."
The singer also said they were fearful Ireland might miss out on votes due to the ongoing boycott to stop Eurovision. In March, Bambie shared a statement, signed by a number of Eurovision contestants, setting out why they will remain in the competition.
They said: "I am fearful that we will miss a lot of votes because of the boycotting and that those then will make someone else maybe more with the chance to win. But there are 200 million viewers and I think that, regardless, our performance stands out and it's undeniable how theatrical ... a moment that is."
Ahead of Golan's performance on Thursday, a heavy police presence arrived at Malmo's main square in anticipation of protests. Bambie will perform at the grand finale on Saturday with their gothic Doomsday Blue. Irish premier Simon Harris said the "whole country will be rooting" for the singer when the contest takes place. The EBU and Golan's representatives have been approached for comment.
Hours ahead of tonight's final, Olly Alexander and others have been urged to drop out of Eurovision and respect the BDS boycott. In an open letter addressed to the UK entry on Instagram, Queers For Palestine told the Dizzy singer: "Can you hear your fans chanting all over Europe for you to do the right thing and boycott Eurovision?
"Despite the slogan ‘United by Music’, this Eurovision will forever be remembered as among the most complicit: United by Genocide. The organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (@ebu_hq) are protecting genocidal Israel by refusing to exclude it from the contest, and are instead banning all shows of solidarity for Palestine.
"Olly, once you take the stage on Saturday there is no going back. We know that the last few months have been a hard time for you. Being asked to sacrifice such a big career moment is no easy choice, and we appreciate the thought you must have put into it. As many of us know, taking a stand can be sincerely challenging, but your community stood with you in opposition to Israel’s pinkwashing of genocide with the Voices 4 London letter you signed. You still have the power to make a difference– we are all looking to you.
It continued: "We know you must feel dizzy with the pressure. But we ask one last time: join the millions of us around the world who support Palestinian liberation and are prepared to make sacrifices when necessary and when called upon to do so by oppressed communities.
"We in Queers for Palestine salute the countless venues and organisers across Britain– from Edinburgh to Bristol, London to Brighton– and all over Europe, who have cancelled Eurovision screening parties, heeding the call from Palestinians and their own communities, queer and otherwise. They recognise that what they stand to lose is minor in comparison to the genocide being inflicted on Palestinians in Gaza every day.
"As we write this, Israel is on the verge of invading Rafah, the last designated “safe zone” in besieged Gaza, after bombing it for days. Whatever glitz and glamour of Eurovision remains, after being so thoroughly tarnished by the EBU’s failure to ban apartheid Israel, can only constitute a disgraceful artwashing and pinkwashing of genocide. You should have no part in it, as we believe you recognise."
The plea concluded: "Olly, as a beloved queer icon you have substantial influence. As drag queen @crystal.will.see.you.now said on BBC Newsnight yesterday to all of us, “This is something you can do. Boycott.” We will be boycotting Eurovision until Israel is banned. You can still join us. You will be rich in our love and admiration, and in your heart for having done the right thing."
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