This yr’s UK Eurovision entry has rejected requires him to boycott this yr’s Track Contest in protest at Israel being included within the competitors.
Pop star Olly Alexander responded Friday to an open letter from Queers for Palestine, signed by greater than 450 artists urging him to boycott the occasion going down in Sweden in Could.
Alexander mentioned in a prolonged publish on X (previously Twitter) why he thought it was proper for him and different artists to stay within the Contest:
“As a participant I’ve taken a variety of time to deliberate over what to do and the choices obtainable to me. It’s my present perception that eradicating myself from the competition wouldn’t convey us any nearer to our shared aim.”
He added that he had mentioned the dilemma with entries from different nations, and so they had come to the identical conclusion.
Alexander added that he supported all actions demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, the return of Israeli hostages and a journey in direction of peace:
“I hope and pray that our calls are answered and there may be an finish to the atrocities we’re seeing going down in Gaza.”
Earlier within the day, Queers for Palestine’s open letter had urged Alexander to stop the Contest, saying:
“We share the imaginative and prescient of queer pleasure and abundance you’ve provided by your music, and share your perception in collective liberation for all. On this spirit, we ask you to heed the Palestinian name to withdraw from Eurovision.”
“Probably the most highly effective use of Olly’s voice at this second can be to make use of it to announce his withdrawal from Eurovision.”
Regardless of the Eurovision Track Contest’s insistence on entries remaining apolitical, this yr’s occasion has been shrouded in controversy. Israel’s entry, initially titled October Rain, was deemed too political with its reference to the Hamas assault in October 2023. The nation has now amended its tune and retitled it Hurricane.
“We firmly imagine that the Eurovision Track Contest is a platform that ought to at all times transcend politics, promote togetherness and produce audiences collectively internationally.”
