400 Irish artists including Erica-Cody and Siobhán McSweeney sign letter urging Bambie Thug to boycott Eurovision

More than 400 Irish artists have signed a letter written to Bambie Thug calling on the Co Cork singer to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest over Israel’s participation in the event.

Among those to sign the letter are Derry Girls actor Siobhán McSweeney and singer-songwriters Emma Langford and Erica-Cody.

Erica-Cody was one of Bambie Thug’s competitors in the Eurosong competition on The Late Late Show in January to choose Ireland’s representative at the Eurovision in May.

Before the Eurosong show both Erica-Cody and Bambie Thug said Israel should not be allowed to compete this year because of the country’s actions in Gaza.

Erica-Cody did not rule out boycotting Eurovision if she had been successful in her bid to represent Ireland.

Responding to calls for them to boycott Eurovision, Bambie Thug said in a post on Instagram last week “my heart and solidarity has and always will lie with the oppressed”.

The coalition of artists noted that statement in the letter posted to the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign website today and said “by participating in Eurovision you will be standing with the oppressor”.

“We are writing to you as Irish artists, writers and poets, many of us queer and trans. Firstly, we congratulate you on being selected to represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. This is an honour and recognition of your talent and artistry,” the letter read.

“However, we are asking you to withdraw from Eurovision 2024, to heed the call from Palestinians to boycott the competition due to the participation of Israel. We welcome that you have chosen, along with other participating artists, not to be silent.”

The letter praised the Irish artists who boycotted the SXSW Music Festival in Texas last month, including Belfast group Kneecap, Galway rock band NewDad and singer-songwriters Gavin James and Mick Flannery.

“We applaud their rejection of the Festival’s complicity with the US and Israeli war machines. This moment demands such principled solidarity,” it said.

“You have the chance to be on the right side of history and to be remembered as an artist of conscience, who, in a time of genocide, chose to do no harm, to truly stand with the oppressed. History will celebrate you if you withdraw from Eurovision 2024. We urge you to do the right thing.”

Meanwhile, an online petition calling for RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst to withdraw Ireland’s participation from this year’s Eurovision “in protest at the EBU’s failure to exclude Israel” has received more than 16,500 signatures.

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