Irish Eurovision contestant Bambi Thug reportedly cried after learning Israel made the finals of the song contest.
Bambi Thug, a self-described non-binary “goth gremlin goblin witch” who uses uses they/them pronouns, made the admission in a backstage interview in Malmo, Sweden on Friday.
“I cried with my team,” Thug, draped in a keffiyeh scarf, stated before dramatically taking a deep breath.
“I cried with my team.” Ireland
Eurovision finalist Bambie Thug is asked how they felt when Israel qualified for the #EUROVISION final. pic.twitter.com/wE1F8xeU7E
— Henry McKean (@HenryMcKean) May 10, 2024
Israel’s contestant, 20-year-old Eden Golan, has been criticized by thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters amid the country’s ongoing war in Gaza.
Thousands of Jihadis from all around the Europe are gathered in Malmö , Sweden just to bully an Israeli singer Eden Golan.
Fake activists like Greta Thunberg are their flag bearer.
Europe must vote for Israel #6 and let the truth win. pic.twitter.com/MDda9lDVjT
— Sunanda Roy
(@SaffronSunanda) May 11, 2024
United for Eden
Tonight Eden Golan will take the stage at the @Eurovision finals and perform “Hurricane”.
Now’s our chance to show Eden just how much we love her.
Don’t forget to vote #06 pic.twitter.com/yryNP4FCLc
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) May 11, 2024
Golan even had a 100-officer security detail escort her to the event amid the controversy.
EUROVISION SECURITY: ISRAELI SINGER UNDER HEAVY GUARD
100 officers escorted 20-year old Eden Golan to Malmö Arena for Eurovision Finale tonight, with a police helicopter overhead.pic.twitter.com/zk9nYtT1B5
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 11, 2024
Meanwhile, Bambi Thug encouraged riots if she didn’t make the final.
“Ireland hasn’t [got] into the final because the songs haven’t been, I guess, standing out,” she said.
“And ours definitely does that this year so I would be very, very encouraging riots if I wasn’t in the final.”
She was the first Irish act since 2018 to make the finals after performing electro-metal song “Doomsday Blue.”
ANYWAY CROWN THE WITCH
— rasmus (@rasmusbravado) May 9, 2024
This is Bambie Thug, the Irish delegate for the Eurovision competition.
She uses they/them pronouns and describes herself as a “goth gremlin goblin witch.” Why don’t we have talent like this in the US? pic.twitter.com/maFeeJEKR7
— Dr. Jebra Faushay (@JebraFaushay) May 8, 2024
Approximately 12,000 people — including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, rallied in Malmo’s historic Stortorget square near the city’s town hall to protest Israel’s inclusion in the song contest before marching toward the Eurovision venue.
Eurovision organizers rejected calls to expel Israel from the competition — arguing they try to keep the competition nonpolitical.