Stephen Fry, Sharon Osbourne, and Marina Abramović are among the celebrities who have signed a letter rejecting the proposed boycott of this year’s Eurovision song contest, set to take place in Tel Aviv in May.
The letter states that Eurovision’s “spirit of togetherness” is currently “under attack by those calling to boycott Eurovision 2019 because it is being held in Israel, subverting the spirit of the contest and turning it from a tool of unity into a weapon of division”.
Co-ordinated by the non-profit organisation Creative Community for Peace (CCFP), the letter features more than 100 signatories, including Gene Simmons from the band Kiss, music mogul Scooter Braun, comedian Al Murray, and Countdown co-presenter Rachel Riley.
“We believe the cultural boycott movement is an affront to both Palestinians and Israelis who are working to advance peace through compromise, exchange, and mutual recognition. While we all may have differing opinions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the best path to peace, we all agree that a cultural boycott is not the answer,” it continues.
Ari Ingel, director of CCFP, said: “The members of the entertainment industry who have signed this statement, along with the thousands of individuals who have endorsed its message, all believe in building bridges through music and the arts as a means to achieving greater understanding and peace in the region.”
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Lordi made history in 2006 by becoming the first hard rock act and Finnish artist to win the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 with the song ‘Hard Rock Hallelujah’.
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In 2007, Andriy Mykhailovych Danylko represented Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest as his drag stage persona Verka Serduchka, finishing in second place.
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Pop duo Jedward, who became famous after appearing on the sixth series of The X Factor, represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, having previously represented the country at the competition the year before.
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The Eurovision Song Contest in 2016 opened with a fashion show that saw models donning unusual costumes made from what appeared to be toilet paper strut down the catwalk.
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Six members from the band ‘Buranovskiye Babushki’ represented Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2010 while wearing embroidered clothing handed down from generations of Udmurt women. They finished in third place.
AFP/Getty Images
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Jamie-Lee Kriewitz represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016 when she was 18 years old, performing her song ‘Ghost’.
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Norwegian glam metal band Wig Wam performed as representatives of Norway at the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest, achieving ninth place.
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In 2008, puppet character Dustin the Turkey represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest, only managing to reach the semi-final.
AFP/Getty Images
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Lithuanian music group InCulto reached the second final of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2010, announcing the splitting up of their band less than a year later.
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Pop band Scooch were selected to represent the UK at the European Song Contest in 2007, performing the song ‘Flying the Flag (For You)’ while dressed as flight attendants.
AFP/Getty Images
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Lordi made history in 2006 by becoming the first hard rock act and Finnish artist to win the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006 with the song ‘Hard Rock Hallelujah’.
Getty Images
2/10
In 2007, Andriy Mykhailovych Danylko represented Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest as his drag stage persona Verka Serduchka, finishing in second place.
AFP/Getty Images
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Pop duo Jedward, who became famous after appearing on the sixth series of The X Factor, represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, having previously represented the country at the competition the year before.
AFP/Getty Images
4/10
The Eurovision Song Contest in 2016 opened with a fashion show that saw models donning unusual costumes made from what appeared to be toilet paper strut down the catwalk.
Getty Images
5/10
Six members from the band ‘Buranovskiye Babushki’ represented Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2010 while wearing embroidered clothing handed down from generations of Udmurt women. They finished in third place.
AFP/Getty Images
6/10
Jamie-Lee Kriewitz represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016 when she was 18 years old, performing her song ‘Ghost’.
Getty Images
7/10
Norwegian glam metal band Wig Wam performed as representatives of Norway at the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest, achieving ninth place.
Getty Images
8/10
In 2008, puppet character Dustin the Turkey represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest, only managing to reach the semi-final.
AFP/Getty Images
9/10
Lithuanian music group InCulto reached the second final of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2010, announcing the splitting up of their band less than a year later.
Getty Images
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Pop band Scooch were selected to represent the UK at the European Song Contest in 2007, performing the song ‘Flying the Flag (For You)’ while dressed as flight attendants.
AFP/Getty Images
Peter Gabriel, Vivienne Westwood and Roger Waters were among those who signed an open letter asking the BBC to push Eurovision to move the competition from Israel.
“Eurovision may be light entertainment,” the letter published in The Guardian reads, ”but it is not exempt from human rights considerations – and we cannot ignore Israel’s systematic violation of Palestinian human rights.”
Israel are set to host the singing competition after the country’s entry – Netta, with the song “Toy” – won the 2018 edition.
The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, had wanted to hold the 2019 competition in Jerusalem, but the city’s nationality has been heavily disputed, with Palestine claiming ownership over the Israeli-occupied area. The competition will instead take place in Tel Aviv.
A BBC spokesperson told The Independent that they would still be showing this year’s Eurovision.
“The Eurovision Song Contest is not a political event and does not endorse any political message or campaign,” they said. ”The competition has always supported the values of friendship, inclusion, tolerance and diversity and we do not believe it would be appropriate to use the BBC’s participation for political reasons. Because of this we will be taking part in this year’s event. The host country is determined by the rules of the competition, not the BBC.”
Michael Rice, 21, will represent the UK at the event, which is set to take place on 18 May.
