Bambie Thug 'devastated' at order to remove pro-Palestine messages before Eurovision performance
Eurovision hopeful Bambie Thug has revealed song contest bosses told them they would not be allowed on stage if they didn’t remove their pro-Palestinian markings on their face.
The Cork singer has secured their place in the Eurovision final this Saturday with their song Doomsday Blue, making them the first Irish act to qualify since 2018.
But drama unfolded before the 31-year-old took to the stage after organisers noticed their political statements on their body. Written in Ogham – an ancient Irish alphabet – the markings on their body translated to “Ceasefire” and “Saoirse Don Phalistin”.
Bambie revealed the Eurovision Broadcasting Union told them they would not be allowed on stage to perform Doomsday Blue for Ireland if they did not remove the markings on their face.
Speaking to Ray D’Arcy on RTE Radio One, they said: “I mean, I was devastated that I had to take it off but I wasn’t going to be allowed on stage if I hadn’t and unfortunately, you know, there’s a bigger picture here. I have to do the performance to be able to make any impact anywhere.”
The artist revealed that all three markings now read “Crown the Witch” ahead of their performance in Saturday night’s final. Opening up about making it to the grand final on Saturday, Bambie said: “I personally, I think just on points that I would like to improve on my own performance specifically, but apart from that, I think we’re just adding a bit more rhinestones to the dress.
“I’m happy, I’m very happy, you know. I’m just going to give another great performance.”
Speaking about performing in the semi-final with dancer and choreographer Matt Williams, Bambie said: “We’ve run the show loads of times before this, you know, my team are incredible. I felt extremely held. And I know there are people around but like it’s us on stage together, so intimate with each other, that the rest of the world doesn’t really exist for us in those moments.
“And I think, you know, that’s a testament to, I guess, our training and also our friendship and our chemistry together. So I’m so grateful for him to be there.”
Ireland didn’t find out if we qualified until ninth place and Bambie said they thought it was done on purpose.
“I think they did it on purpose… I don’t know,” they said. “The Swedes were behind me, like the presenter was like ‘where’s Bambie Thug?’. I don’t know, maybe it was just for everyone’s rooting for Ireland and you know, to keep up the drama. It’s TV.”
Bambie said they love how they are proving people wrong who said they can’t sing.
“It’s a whirlwind. I mean, my favourite thing is the family wholesomeness of us as contestants, like I genuinely have made some amazing friends for life. There’s such camaraderie, there’s such a genuine, loving and care for each other and it’s gorgeous. Everyone is so supportive of each other. It’s just such a different world. It’s gorgeous.”
Bambie Thug with song Doomsday Blue representing Ireland performs on stage during the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden, on May 7, 2024
Bambie’s mother Laura also told how proud she is of their performance. Speaking to RTÉ’s Arts & Media Correspondent Evelyn O’Rourke after the result, Laura – affectionately nicknamed ‘Mambie Thug’ by fans – said: “I’m feeling so proud… I think we’re going to have a ball. We’re having a ball here! There’s a huge contingent here and everybody’s really supportive – as you can hear!
“We’re never going to get away from this, you know. We will live on with this for so long and we will just celebrate and celebrate. It’s fantastic.”
Laura agreed that Bambie Thug had been very calm on the night.
“It is a big stage, and a few people asked me, ‘How are they feeling?’ and I said, ‘I think they’re fine’. They handled it very well. They always did, they always handle the stage very well. I said, ‘That’s what they live for’. We all saw that tonight anyway! I thought it was brilliant! Their attention to detail is unbelievable, it is. They just have huge imagination. They always have had. I’m really proud.”
She added that it is “fantastic” to see how Bambie Thug’s message of inclusivity has connected.
“I have a cousin living in Liverpool and they were all voting tonight. They had a big Eurovision party. One of the things that my cousin Helen texted me was to tell me she has a few friends whose teenagers are transitioning and she said that the support that they feel from Bambie Thug is phenomenal. It made me cry, actually. I thought it was just fantastic. [I’m] very, very proud.”
Meanwhile, Eurovision legend Johnny Logan has said Bambie Thug was “much more together” than he ever was – as the non-binary artist is being backed to win the song contest. Logan, who met Bambie before they took to the stage on Tuesday night for the first semi-final, opened up about how “talented” Bambie is.
Johnny Logan and Bambie Thug via RTE on Instagram
The What’s Another Year hitmaker said: “I went to see Bambie…to give them a hug and they gave me a hug back and we did some photographs together.
“It was the first time in years that when they announced they were in the final, I was sitting in the green room and I let out a shout. I gave a fright to the four or five delegations around me with how loud I was. I went to see Bambie just before Bambie went on and gave them another hug and I said ‘Look when it’s over, I won’t be around because this is going to be about you and I don’t want to be in your light and I think you go on and be the best that you can be’.
“I think Bambie is a very, very talented, very and much more together than I ever was.”
Logan said going back to the Eurovision stage in 2024 “took his breath away” as he performed Loreen’s Euphoria in the Malmo Arena.
“To see the reaction to my performance is just wonderful.”
During the press conference on Tuesday night, Bambie also noted that they are very proud to be the first non-binary person to represent Ireland in a Eurovision grand final, which was met by rapturous applause and shouts of congratulations.
In a question from online fans, Bambie Thug was asked what they thought “makes them special?”.
The Cork artist replied: “You know what makes me special? I’m a queer.” Which was again met by loud cheers from the room. Bambie Thug said: “I’m super proud. Our team is very small and I’m an independent artist. It’s incredible that we reached here.”
“See you Saturday!”
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