Bambie Thug addresses decision not to boycott Eurovision over Israel participation

Irish Eurovision hopeful Bambie Thug opened up on their decision not to boycott this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden over Israel's contentious participation.

The Cork native spoke to Patrick Kielty on the Late Late Show on Friday night where they also performed an alternative version of their Doomsday Blues track upon which the nation's hopes of a record eighth Eurovision victory hang.

After discussing their recent activity on the road promoting the song in Europe, which has seen them slip into the top 10 favourite's to win, host Patrick pressed Bambie on the "controversial" nature of this year's contest and on their decision to go ahead with their performance while Israel's six-month bombing campaign of Gaza continues to claim the lives of thousands of civilians, drawing outrage from all corners of the globe.

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They said: "I stand with anyone doing the boycott. I think if I wasn't in the competition, I would also be boycotting. There are a loit of moving parts.

They continued: "At the end of the day, without the group of us who is pro-Palestine, it is less compeittion for the other side (Israel) to win and it's less of solidarity there. Obviously it's incredibly heavy and I am extremely behind everybody.

Bambie expressed their disappointment at the organisers for allowing Israel to take part in the annual international festival of music, but hope to take home the crown for Ireland.

"We all meet up and had chats about it and we just couldn't stay silent on the matter. At the end of the day, it's the EBU who has to make the decision, and, unfortunatly in my eyes, they're not making the right decision. So yeah, it's bitter-sweet, the whole thing."

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