Eric Saade responds to EBU statement

In response to the statement released by the EBU yesterday, Eric Saade has issued his own reply.

This was just my way of showing a part of my origin, which is important in a world like this. I got that keffiyeh from my dad when I was a little boy, to never forget where the family comes from. Back then, I didn’t know it would one day be called a ‘political symbol’ by EBU. It’s like calling the “Swedish Dala horse” a political symbol… In my eyes, it’s just racism.

I just wanted to be inclusive and wear somthing that is authentic to me – but the EBU seems to think my ethnicity is controversial. It says nothing about me, but everything about them

I’ll stick to this years ESC slogan:

United by music!

I can only hope for some kind of change in the future…

Eric Saade on the EBU accusing him of politicising the comeptition

Following the first semi-final the EBU has been criticized for its handling of those wishing to share pro-Palestinian statements, in addition to the statement about Saade, Ireland’s representative Bambie Thug revealed that they had been made to change the writing on their body in Ogham.

Following the country’s non-qualification the backing dancer for Australia also revealed that they had painted a watermelon, a symbol for Palestine, on their chest – further revelations were made that the EBU had security guards pat down every artist before they entered the stage to check if they had any prohibited flags or items on them. The EBU has issued no statement about the Australian backing dancer.