Bambie Thug urged to pull out of Eurovision as Cork’s city councillors back call for Israel ban

One councillor noted that 'In 2022, Russia was banned due to the invasion of Ukraine' and asked why the European Broadcasting Union did not do the same to Israel

Bambie Thug (pictured) co-signed a statement late last month, along with the UK’s entrant Olly Alexander and the Danish entrant Saba, rejecting calls for them to boycott the competition. Photo: Andres Poveda

Ireland’s entrant in the Eurovision Song Contest, Bambie Thug, has been told to have the courage of their convictions and boycott the event in protest over the inclusion of Israel.

The call came as Cork’s city councillors supported a motion calling on the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to ban Israel from taking part in the event which is being staged in Malmo, Sweden, next month.

Sinn Féin’s leader on the council, Mick Nugent, said he noted Bambie Thug’s statement late last month, co-signed by the UK’s entrant Olly Alexander and the Danish entrant Saba, rejecting calls for them to boycott the competition.

But he said it’s not too late for Cork-born Bambie Thug to reconsider their stance. “They are saying they have a pro-Palestinian position. That’s fine. But they need to have the courage of their convictions and not go to it,” he said.

“I think in the years ahead, we will be asking, everyone will be asking, what did you do in this period of time while we are watching genocide live on TV.

I don’t think people should be going. Bambie Thug should not go to the Eurovision. 

He made his comments during the debate on the motion tabled by Solidarity Cllr Brian McCarthy which called on the EBU to ban Israel from the contest, and which was approved 12 votes to nine.

He claimed the Israeli state uses any opportunity, including cultural events like the Eurovision, to generate good PR on the world stage.

“In 2022, Russia was banned due to the invasion of Ukraine with the EBU saying their participation would ‘bring the contest into disrepute’,” he said.

“So are they saying that allowing a state which is carrying out a genocide, which has slaughtered more than 30,000 people and is intentionally using famine as a weapon won’t bring the contest into disrepute?

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“Israel must now be banned for the same reason but if they are allowed to take part we call on all participants to boycott the event to show solidarity with Palestine and in opposition to genocide.” 

He said just one announcement by a participant or broadcaster could start a domino effect — as happened with the South by Southwest music festival in Texas last month, when all Irish acts refused to perform at a showcase sponsored by the US army.

Green Party Cllr Oliver Moran said it would be more appropriate for the council to support Cork-born Bambie Thug’s stance but Fianna Fáil Cllr Terry Shannon sounded a note of caution over bringing politics into sport, music and culture.

“Where does that end? Where do boycotts end?” he said.

The event will be staged at the Malmo Arena on May 7, 9 and 11, with 31 countries competing in two semi-finals from which 10 successful acts will join the so-called ‘Big 5’ — France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK — and hosts Sweden in the grand final.