The Eurovision Song Contest wrapped up on Saturday night in a gripping final where 25 acts competed for the prestigious glass microphone trophy. The United Kingdom, represented by Olly Alexander, landed in the 18th spot.
Performing his hit ‘Dizzy’ at the Malmö Arena in Sweden, Alexander demonstrated his vocal prowess. However, the top spot ultimately went to Swiss singer Nemo Mettler.
Despite giving his heart out on stage, Alexander failed to win the audience over, receiving no votes from the public.
The Years & Years singer, who garnered a total of 46 points from the judges, had a challenging journey in the contest. His semi-final performance faced unfavorable reviews, with some audience members criticizing his off-key singing.
Born in North Yorkshire, Alexander succeeded last year’s UK representative, Mae Muller, who finished just one spot from the bottom.
In the 2024 edition of Eurovision Song Contest, Nemo Mettler emerged as the winner, with Croatian singer, Baby Lasagna, as the close runner up.
Amidst the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine, there were calls for Alexander to withdraw from the contest due to Israel’s participation. Recalling his past condemnation of Israel as an “apartheid regime” before his announcement as the UK’s Eurovision contestant in December, his decision to participate drew criticism from some fans and activists.
Last year, Alexander had publicly supported a movement advocating for the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza. He backed a letter from LGBT group Voices4London, which condemned Israel as an ‘apartheid regime’ and accused it of attempting to “ethnically cleanse” Palestinian territories.
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS), a Palestinian-led initiative that promotes boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel, encouraged Eurovision fans, hosts, and performers to boycott the contest. They also urged people not to watch the Saturday night’s live final.
Addressing the controversy in a recent BBC documentary, a visibly emotional Olly opened up about his decision to participate in the contest despite the backlash.
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