Boy George, Mayim Bialik, Helen Mirren and almost 400 stars ask Eurovision not to exclude Israel

In recent weeks, the protests that were being carried out from different Nordic countries against the presence of Israel in Eurovision. Thousands of artists from Finland or Sweden, to name only those closest to them, signed a declaration in which they asked the EBU, the entity that coordinates the organization of the Eurovision Song Contest along with public state radio and television, which would exclude the country at war. However, almost 400 American and British artists have responded with an open letter calling for the opposite.

Boy George, Sharon Osbourne, Gene Simmons, Mayim Bialik, Helen Mirren, Scooter Braun, Selma Blair, Emmy Rossum, Debra Messing, Diane Warren And so up to almost 400 names have asked the Eurovision Song Contest not to give in to the pressures of those protesting against the war that has claimed the lives of nearly 30,000 Palestinians according to figures from humanitarian organizations.

“We have been surprised and disappointed to see some members of the entertainment community call for Israel to be banished from the Contest for responding to the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Under the cover of thousands of rockets fired indiscriminately at civilian populations, Hamas murdered and kidnapped to innocent men, women and children” can be read in the open letter.

Each artist also signs part of the letter in his or her own handwriting. This is the case of Scooter Braun, manager of some stars and archenemy of Taylor Swift: “Music is a place for unity, not division. It is a language that should always unite us. Artists should never be discriminated against because of who they are, “Who they love or where they were born. These boycott efforts do nothing but distract us from the uplifting and unifying power of music, something we need now more than ever.”

A similar text is signed by Gene Simmons (Kiss): “Music unites people of all backgrounds. It is the only language that everyone can understand. It is a beautiful thing and a great way to bring people together. Those who advocate excluding a Israeli Eurovision singer does not move the needle towards peace, but only divides the world further.”

There are thousands of comments that have responded through social networks to the artist representative and the rocker who Last year they did not demonstrate or say a single word about the exclusion of Russia from the same festival due to the war in Ukraine.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the body in charge of organizing Eurovision, confirmed a few weeks ago its decision not to exclude Israel as a participating country in one of the largest musical events at the European level.

Eurovision 2024 is currently unaffected by these protests, which could be transferred to the live musical events prepared in Malmö for the entire week of May.

This is the full open letter:

We, the undersigned members of the entertainment industry, write to you to express our support for Israel’s continued inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.

We have been surprised and disappointed to see some members of the entertainment community call for Israel to be banished from the Contest for responding to the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

October 7 was a day when Hamas attacked a music festival meant to celebrate life and saw 364 innocent civilians killed, hundreds maimed and brutalized, more than 40 festival-goers taken hostage, and many raped.

Israel is waging war against a European Union-designated terrorist group that once again broke a ceasefire that day and then massacred more than 1,200 people. This current round of fighting is not a war that Israel wanted or started. Punishing Israel would be a reversal of justice.

Israel also has a long history in Eurovision. This includes winning the Pageant in 1978, 1979, 1998 and 2018 and having a diverse group of contestants representing the country, including Palestinians, Ethiopians and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Israel then hosted the Festival in 1979, 1999 and 2019. In fact, Eurovision fans voted “Dare to Dream,” the 64th Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv, as the best Eurovision production of the decade.

Additionally, we believe that unifying events, such as singing competitions, are crucial in helping to bridge our cultural divides and unite people of all backgrounds through their shared love of music.

The annual Eurovision Song Contest embodies this unifying spirit. Every year, millions of people from across Europe and around the world join in a massive display of cultural exchange and celebration of music.

Those calling for Israel’s exclusion are subverting the spirit of the War and turning it from a celebration of unity into a political tool.

We support all of this year’s contestants, as well as their decision to reject calls to expel Israel from the Contest. We look forward to a successful and exciting Eurovision 2024.