Did Andy Abraham Lose Eurovision Because He Is Black? Terry Wogan Claims Racism
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition amongst the nations who are part of the European Broadcasting Union. While many countries, particularly in the Eastern part of Europe take it completely seriously, the UK has a history of taking it all rather light-heartedly. Which is good, seeing as we usually do abysmally in it.
This year was no different, with Andy Abraham, former dustman, former X-Factor contestant, and this year’s representative, coming in joint last place with just 14 points. But why did he do so terribly?
The song was terrible, and although Abraham tried his best, his style of performance just wasn’t right on the night. However, according to Terry Wogan, veteran broadcaster and commentator on this cheesy spectacle, there was another, far more sinister reason for Abraham’s low placing: Racism.
In his column in a Sunday newspaper, Wogan claimed that the East European countries just couldn’t bring themselves to vote for a black man in the competition. According to the Daily Telegraph, he said:
The elephant in the room was our singer Andy Abraham’s colour. East of the Danube, they won’t be voting for any black singer any day soon.”
He added: “Those who care [about the contest] will have had it up to here with the blatant political voting from the former satellites of the USSR that awarded this year’s event to Russia, and the even more scandalous lack of votes for the UK entry.”
As controversial as that pronouncement is, he certainly has grounds for making the accusation. Not only is political voting a known evil, with certain countries always awarding their neighbours maximum points, none of the 22 east European countries awarded Abraham a single point for his rendition of Even If.
Wogan went on to claim that the only chance the UK has of doing well in the contest is for a well-known and world renowned singer to represent us. He said:
“If the British music industry can’t swing even one of our major acts to represent the country at the Eurovision, we’re really wasting our time,”
Maybe it’s time for us to just bow out of the whole thing as it’s a bit of a joke now anyway. Sure, lots of people watch it, and some even have Eurovision parties, but in this country at least, that’s more just an excuse to get a bit drunk and to laugh at how bad some countries singers are. Isn’t that a bit racist too?
[Photo Source: From Newscom with permission]
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