Olly Alexander hesitates as if his Eurovision entry has been 'spoilt'
Olly Alexander hesitated as he was asked whether his Eurovision experience had been ‘spoilt’ amid all the controversy, as he branded his participation in the contest as a ‘rollercoaster’.
The UK’s entry has been beset with problems having faced calls to pull out of the event over Israel’s inclusion and his ‘divisive’ Union Jack flag jibe.
Last night, an onstage mishap that saw his microphone pack fall out of his trousers during the Eurovision semi-final added to the Years and Years’ singer’s woes as he struggled to hide his emotions and admitted he had been ‘thrown off’.
There is heightened security at this year’s event in Malmo, Sweden, with officers holding machine guns patrolling outside hotels amid plans of pro-Palestine protests against Israel’s involvement.
The It’s A Sin star, 33, is set to represent his home nation with his track Dizzy, but has come under fire from many stars and fans for remaining in the competition.
Olly Alexander hesitated as he was asked whether his Eurovision experience had been ‘spoilt’ by all the controversy
The Years and Years singer, 33, who’s representing Great Britain with his catchy tune Dizzy, suffered a slight wardrobe malfunction when his mic pack fell off during the second chorus and was left dangling behind him
A group of 450 LGBTQ+ artists, individuals, and organisations, including actor Maxine Peake, signed an open letter asking Alexander to withdraw from the contest over Israel’s war with Gaza.
The singer responded in March with a lengthy statement, vowing that he will remain in the competition, and he would instead focus on collaborating with other Eurovision contestants on how to ‘use our platform to come together and call for peace.’
Last week he cried during an interview when he was asked about the way campaigners had put pressure on him to not participate.
Alexander sat down for an interview at a hotel in the city with ITV, where he was asked whether calls for him to boycott the show and all the other issues had ‘spoilt’ this year’s event for him.
Looking uncomfortable, the singer hesitates before answering: ‘Well… umm… this experience it is what it is I’m just accepting it really for what it is.
‘There have been many amazing things as well but it has been quite the rollercoaster.’
He admitted the tightened security was something that ‘unfortunately’ had to be done, but despite all the issues said he was proud to be there.
‘No matter what kind of artist you are, this platform doesn’t come along very often… there are hundreds of millions of people watching you,’ he said.
‘I know it’s a performance that not everyone is going to love or it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea but I’m really proud I get to do this. I’ve worked really hard to get to this point.’
The raunchy number saw Olly sensually running his hands over the dancer’s shirtless bodies before they entered into a dance sequence and the singer thrusted to the beat
Taking some deep breaths he continued: ‘But it doesn’t matter. That is the thrill of live music, television anything can happen’
Alexander suffered a slight wardrobe malfunction last night when his mic pack fell off during the second chorus and was left dangling behind him, as fans shared their concerns over his shaky vocals.
Taking to his Instagram to share an update with fans on Wednesday, Olly looked visibly disheartened and seemed to be fighting back tears as he admitted he was ‘worried and stressed’.
He told fans: ‘Eurovision update. Semi Final one was last night, I performed, it was good. I had a slight wardrobe malfunction, well my mic pack fell out halfway through the performance so I had to catch it.
‘It kind of threw me off. I was worried. There were elements of the routine I couldn’t really do as well as I would have liked and I was stressed that the pack would just fall off entirely and my in-ears would fall out.’
Taking some deep breaths he continued: ‘But it doesn’t matter. That is the thrill of live music, television anything can happen.
‘But the show was amazing so many amazing contestants and everyone did so well. It was heartbreaking that anyone had to go home.’
Last year there were calls to drop Alexander as the UK’s Eurovision entry, after it emerged he’d signed a letter calling Israel an ‘apartheid regime’
The singer responded in a lengthy statement to calls for him to boycott Eurovision over Israel’s inclusion, vowing that he will remain in the competition
He shared his statement after being part of a collective message signed by multiple Eurovision artists, vowing that they would still be taking part in Eurovision (pictured)
In another interview he courted more controversy when he said he had an ‘ambivalent relationship with the Union Jack. He said the flag could feel ‘divisive’ and ‘nationalist’.
He said: ‘I hope to like reclaim like the Union Jack, in a positive way.’ Alexander added: ‘When I’m going to be out there waving my flag… at the parade, like it’s for all the good things that have come from growing up in the UK and being British.’
The UK’s entry last year, Mae Muller, faced similar criticism over her comments about Boris Johnson in 2020 while he was in intensive care receiving treatment for Covid.
She tweeted on April 8, 2020: ‘Unpopular opinion but I do not feel sorry for Boris Johnson.
‘Yes, he is human, yes, he has kids, but so do 100s of other people who have actually died due to Tory policies.
‘Taking up a bed in intensive care but you’re not on a ventilator and in ‘high spirits’? Nah mate.’
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