Nemo: “I Felt Very Alone” – The Israel Controversy and Lack of Support at Eurovision

Nemo, this year’s Eurovision winner, stated that the contest’s organizers did not provide enough support to participants caught up in the controversy over Israel’s participation. In an interview with the BBC, the 25-year-old Swiss artist said they felt “very alone” during the competition and expressed hope that better support structures will be in place in the future. “I really hope they have things in place for the next year,” they said.

Ahead of Eurovision, there were calls for Israel to be banned due to military actions in Gaza, and protests took place in Malmö, Sweden, where the contest was hosted. Nemo and other artists were pressured to boycott the event, while Israel’s representative, Eden Golan, reportedly received death threats.

Nemo, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, described the backstage atmosphere as “quite tense,” with ongoing investigations by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). “They told us they would get back to us, but they haven’t yet. It’s a shame that the EBU takes so long, in my honest opinion,” they commented.

When asked if the organizers did enough to support the artists, Nemo responded, “No, I don’t think so. There were times I felt very alone, and it took a long time for them to get back to artists when they reached out.”

The EBU responded in a statement, acknowledging the artists’ experiences and promising changes, including a duty of care protocol for future participants.

Despite the controversy, Nemo emphasized the importance of Eurovision as a platform for cultural exchange. “At the core of this contest, I think it’s an exchange of different cultures and coming together. I really believe in that sentiment,” they said.

As the first non-binary artist to win Eurovision, Nemo’s victory was a significant moment for the LGBTQ community. “Only after Eurovision did I start to realize the scale of what this moment meant to so many people,” they noted, adding that the win gave hope to many queer people who felt seen and understood.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: BBC