Picture credits: © EBU / Sarah Louise Bennett More controversy arises just hours before the final of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2024, in one of the editions that is generating more discussion beyond the music. Bambie Thug, the representative of Ireland, was absent from the last rehearsal (the Afternoon Preview) due to an urgent situation that arose minutes before.
In an interview with the Irish public broadcaster RTÉ, they stated: “There’s a lot more anger and a lot more drive in me now. I’m angry with other teams breaching their rules of the European Broadcasting Union, and still being allowed in. So there’s definitely a war drum sounding in my heart to push the performance even more than I have done before”.
The issue stems from comments against Bambie Thug made by the Israeli broadcaster KAN before her performance in the semi-final – pointing out that they “liked to speak negatively about Israel”, in addition to calling for curses and classifying her performance as “the most scary”.
On social media, Bambie Thug wrote: “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”.
Regretting the decision, she hinted that her participation in the final is not at risk: “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”.
In addition to Bambie Thug, Marina Satti (Greece) and Nemo (Switzerland) also did not attend the rehearsal at the time of the flag parade.
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