Eurovision has always been more than just sequins, smoke machines, and a love for absurd key changes.
For queer fans, it’s our annual moment to collectively scream, cry, and stan under the glorious banner of unapologetic self-expression.
But behind the glittery facade? A history of controversy that proves Eurovision has never been just a song contest. Here are six of the biggest dramas in the competition’s long history.
Same-sex kiss censored in Turkey
Before Drag Race had us lip-syncing for our lives, Finnish queen Krista Siegfrids dropped jaws by kissing her female dancer on stage in 2013.
The reason? Finland still hadn’t legalised same-sex marriage. The performance was censored in Turkey and edited out entirely in China, but it made international headlines and cemented itself as one of Eurovision’s most powerful queer moments.
Armenia breaches ‘no politics’ rule
During her semi-final performance in 2016, Armenia’s Iveta Mukuchyan pulled out the flag of Nagorno-Karabakh – a disputed region at the heart of a long-standing conflict with Azerbaijan.
Eurovision gave Armenia a formal warning, calling it a breach of their “no politics” rule but Mukuchyan didn’t back down, saying she wanted peace and visibility for her people.
Portugal incites a revolution
Yes, really. Portugal’s entry “E Depois do Adeus” didn’t win Eurovision. In fact, it came last.
But back home, it was used as the signal to launch the Carnation Revolution, which toppled a dictatorship and restored democracy.
Belgium’s winner breaks the rules
Belgium’s Sandra Kim won the contest in 1986 with the upbeat “J’aime La Vie” saying she was 15. But, it turns out she was actually 13.
The scandal didn’t strip her win, but it did force Eurovision to introduce a minimum age of 16 going forward. Kim still holds the record as the youngest winner.
Israel’s entry sparks call for boycott
When Israel submitted “October Rain” to Eurovision 2024, critics quickly clocked that its lyrics alluded to the October Hamas attacks – a move deemed too political for the contest’s rules.
After a forced rewrite and a title change to “Hurricane” the backlash didn’t stop. Over 2,000 Scandinavian artists demanded Israel’s removal.
Meanwhile, 450 LGBTQ+ organisations, including big names in queer nightlife and activism, called on UK entrant Olly Alexander to withdraw and sought a boycott of the contest as a whole.
Conchita Wurst’s win sends conservatives into a tailspin
When Conchita Wurst, the glamorous bearded drag persona of Austrian singer Tom Neuwirth, took home the Eurovision crown in 2014 with the soaring ballad “Rise Like a Phoenix”, it wasn’t just a win, it was a cultural moment.
Wurst’s victory was a fierce declaration of queer identity on one of the world’s biggest stages, and while LGBTQ+ fans celebrated, not everyone was ready for the moment.
Russian politicians branded the contest a “hotbed of sodomy”, and some conservative viewers across Eastern Europe lost their minds.
So, what dramas and controversies will happen this year? Stay tuned to PinkNews for our seriously comprehensive Eurovision 2025 coverage: it’s the best way to find out.
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