Eurovision 2023: Ukraine’s President Zelensky Banned From Addressing Contest Audience

[Red Gold]

Eurovision 2023: Ukraine’s President Zelensky Banned From Addressing Contest Audience

Eurovision 2023: Ukraine’s President Zelensky Banned From Addressing Contest Audience Of Millions

Ukraine was unable to host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest due to the war taking place inside the country. Now President Zelensky has been banned by event owners from addressing the huge audience …

deadline.com

Ukraine was unable to host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest due to the war taking place inside the country. Now President Zelensky has been banned by event owners from addressing the huge audience at the event.


The Times reports that the Ukrainian president had asked to make an appearance during the Grand Final on Saturday May 13th, but his request has been rejected.

 

[Red Gold]

What's your opinion in this case?

 

[Red Gold]

Reason:

The paper reports that Zelensky had been expected to press for international support for his country in the face of Russia’s ongoing invasion, but that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has always insisted that no political statements be made during the performances – something enforced by the EBU’s ‘Reference Group’ – and this extends to speeches beyond the music.

Eurovision 2023: Ukraine’s President Zelensky Banned From Addressing Contest Audience Of Millions

Ukraine was unable to host the 67th Eurovision Song Contest due to the war taking place inside the country. Now President Zelensky has been banned by event owners from addressing the huge audience …

deadline.com

 

[Red Gold]

Have you ever watched the ESC?

 

[Larniavc]

I think the Eurosong is a bit too light weight, camp and silly to really be a forum for heads of state.

 

[Nithavela]

I think Zelensky is doing a marvelous job, but he doesn't have to hold his face into every camera and ask for more weapons.

 

[Red Gold]

More:

“The request by Mr Zelensky to address the audience at the Eurovision Song Contest, whilst made with laudable intentions, regrettably cannot be granted by the European Broadcasting Union management as it would be against the rules of the event,” the statement continued.

If he had been allowed to address the contest, the Ukrainian leader would probably have continued his pattern of using speeches at high-profile international events to draw attention to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine – and Eurovision would have been a poignant stage on which to do so, given that this year’s contest is being staged in the United Kingdom because Ukraine, the winner of last year’s contest and the rightful host nation, is unable to host it due to the Russian invasion.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/12/entertainment/zelensky-eurovision-speech-intl-scli/index.html

 

[Nithavela]

More:

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/12/entertainment/zelensky-eurovision-speech-intl-scli/index.html

Seems like this whole story is just a canard.

President’s Office says Zelensky did not contact ESC organizers to deliver speech during contest

The Office of the President of Ukraine has not contacted the organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest in order for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to deliver an online speech during finals or at any other stage of the 2023 contest. — Ukrinform.

www.ukrinform.net

 

[Red Gold]

a canard, then ....

 

[Red Gold]

And - who has won?

 

[Nithavela]

And - who has won?

Doesn't matter, as long as germany stays last.

ESC isn't and never has been about the music, at least when it comes to the voting. It's purely a political spectacle, with countries voting for their "allies" and ignoring those that they don't like. And of course, germany is almost always on the second list.

(Not that I'm impressed by the current german song or their performance, mind you)

 

[Nithavela]

Fun fact: Russia elected to strike the hometown of the ukranian band during the contest.

Russian missiles strike home town of Ukraine’s Eurovision entry during contest

University town of Ternopil, home of Tvorchi, targeted by missiles with two people injured

www.theguardian.com

It is about as far away from the front as you can get in Ukraine.

 

[trophy33]

Have you ever watched the ESC?

No, just some fragments here or there. Its mostly a freak show or below average pop music, to me. Even contestants from my own country are not something I would be willing to listen to (and I have never heard of them before).

 

[Nithavela]

No, just some fragments here or there. Its mostly a freak show or below average pop music, to me. Even contestants from my own country are not something I would be willing to listen to (and I have never heard of them before).

Can't say I ever heard of the german contestants of this year either. Nor do I expect to hear from them ever again.

 

[trophy33]

Can't say I ever heard of the german contestants of this year either. Nor do I expect to hear from them ever again.

Well, I gave few seconds to the German song and I must admit that it was even worse than the pan-slavic feminism of the Czech song.

Congrats.

 

[Nithavela]

Well, I gave few seconds to the German song and I must admit that it was even worse than the pan-slavic feminism of the Czech song.

Congrats.

I'm sorry about those seconds.

 

[Red Gold]

Well, I gave few seconds to the German song and I must admit that it was even worse than the pan-slavic feminism of the Czech song.

I agree with you - it was terrible!

The song title alone was terrible!

 

[trophy33]

I randomly clicked on "Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha" from Finland and I think I have had enough of Eurovision for another year.

 

[Red Gold]

I randomly clicked on "Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha" from Finland and I think I have had enough of Eurovision for another year.

Yes - it has gone from bad to worse!

 

[trophy33]

Yes - it has gone from bad to worse!

¯\_(ツ)_/¯