UK Eurovision hopeful ‘ambivalent’ about Union flag
‘It is important to us to stand in solidarity with the oppressed'
OLLY ALEXANDER, who will represent the United Kingdom at Eurovision, has said he said he has an “ambivalent” relationship with the Union flag as it can be “divisive” and “nationalistic.”
The Years and Years singer will perform Dizzy during Saturday’s final in Malmo, Sweden. Alexander, 33, said he hopes to “reclaim” the flag, in a “positive” way when he waves it at the parade.
He said: “When I’m going to be out there waving my flag… at the parade, it’s for all the good things that have come from growing up in the UK and being British.”
Alexander previously triggered an anti-semitism row after The Telegraph revealed he had signed a letter calling Israel an “apartheid regime” and condemning “Zionist propaganda”.
The BBC said afterwards that it would continue to let him express his views, while Jewish campaigners called for him to be replaced as Britain’s Eurovision entrant.
The Israeli embassy in London said in response: “We would be happy to arrange a trip for you to visit the Oct 7 massacre sites in Israel, where the rights of LGBTQ+ are celebrated, protected and cherished. Unfortunately, our neighbours can’t guarantee the same.”
He later came under intense pressure to withdraw from the competition after Queers for Palestine, a collective of more than 450 queer artists, asked him and other artists to pull out of the contest in protest at Israel’s participation in an open letter in March.
The contestants responded in a statement: “It is important to us to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and communicate our heartfelt wish for peace, an immediate lasting ceasefire, and the safe return of all hostages. We stand united against all forms of hate."