BBC is urged to sack UK’s Eurovision entrant Olly Alexander as it emerges he signed letter calling Israel an ‘apartheid regime’ and accusing Jewish state of ‘genocide’
- Singer faces having role stripped after he signed a letter from an LGBT charity
The BBC is being urged to drop singer Olly Alexander as its entrant for Eurovision after it emerged he signed letter calling Israel an ‘apartheid regime’.
The Years and Years frontman, 33, was unveiled as next year’s candidate for the UK during the Strictly Come Dancing final, which aired on the BBC on Saturday.
But he now faces having that role stripped from him after he signed a letter from LGBT charity Voices4London which described Israel an ‘apartheid regime’ which is acting to ‘ethnically cleanse’ Palestine, according to The Telegraph.
The statement, which was published on October 20, almost two weeks after Hamas’ October 7 attack, also says that Israel has ‘terrorised’ Palestinian people and there is now a ‘genocide’ taking place ‘in real time’.
The Conservatives have accused the BBC of ‘either a massive oversight or sheer brass neck’ for selecting Alexander, while a Jewish charity has called for him to be replaced and for the broadcaster to cut ties with him.
However, The Telegraph reported the BBC is not planning on taking any action as the singer signed the letter weeks before he was unveiled as the UK’s Eurovision act.
The BBC is being urged to drop singer Olly Alexander (pictured) as its entrant for Eurovision after it emerged he signed letter calling Israel an ‘apartheid regime’
Alexander now faces having the role stripped from him after he reportedly signed a letter from LGBT charity Voices4London which described Israel an ‘apartheid regime’
Aerial view of buildings destroyed by Israeli air strikes in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza City on October 11
The letter which was allegedly signed by Alexander, who is non-binary and uses he/him pronouns, said: ‘We are watching a genocide take place in real time.
READ MORE: Olly Alexander CONFIRMS he’s representing the UK at Eurovision Song Contest as he vows to ‘fly the flag for the nation in the gayest way possible’
‘Death overflows from our phone screens and into our hearts. And, as a queer community, we cannot sit idly by while the Israeli government continues to wipe out entire lineages of Palestinian families.
‘We cannot untangle these recent tragedies from a violent history of occupation.
‘Current events simply are an escalation of the state of Israel’s apartheid regime, which acts to ethnically cleanse the land.
‘Since the violent creation of the state 75 years ago, the Israeli military and Israeli settlers have continued to terrorise Palestinian people.’
‘Queer and trans Palestinians have long highlighted that pinkwashing plays a significant role in Zionist propaganda.
‘We stand against any and all harassment and discrimination against Jewish communities.
‘For the many queer and anti-Zionist Jewish individuals invested in liberation, this unthinking philosemitism, which hesitates to criticise an ongoing genocide out of fear of being seen to criticise Jewish people, is simply the other face of anti-Semitism’.
Olly Alexander was announced as the UK’s entry for Eurovision next year
The Years & Years frontman, 33, made the announcement during Saturday’s live final of Strictly Come Dancing as the audience cheered along
After it emerged that Alexander had signed the letter, a Conservative Party source told The Telegraph: ‘Letting an openly anti-Israel singer compete on the same stage as Israel is either a massive oversight or sheer brass neck from the BBC.
‘After they refused to call Hamas a terrorist organisation, you would think BBC bosses would try to steer clear of causing any more diplomatic blunders.
‘Maybe it’s time to stop letting the BBC decide who represents the UK at Eurovision.’
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Jewish charity Campaign Against Antisemitism told the newspaper: ‘The rhetoric in this letter, which is seemingly endorsed by Olly Alexander, is extreme. It is appalling in particular that it condemns “unthinking philosemitism”.
‘At a time when nearly seven in 10 British Jews feel afraid to express their identity in public, this must not be the person to represent our country at the Eurovision Song Contest. The BBC can and must right this wrong.’
Alexander is set to represent the UK in Sweden in 2024 and has promised to ‘fly the flag for the UK in the gayest way possible’.
Following the announcement on Saturday, Alexander said in a statement: ‘I’ve loved watching Eurovision ever since I was a little kid and I’m beyond excited to be taking part next year.
‘As a young boy I always looked forward to this incredible event of unbridled joy, the wonderfully chaotic mix of musical styles, theatrical performances, heartfelt emotion and humour.’
Olly Alexander performing live on stage with his band Years and Years at Wembley Arena on May 26 2022
Sir Elton John (left) and Olly Alexander perform during The BRIT Awards 2021 at The O2 Arena on May 11 2021
The UK has won Eurovision five times, with the last time being in 1997 when Katrina & The Waves performed Love Shine a Light .
Prior to that, the UK stormed to victory in 1981 with Bucks Fizz’s Makin’ Your Mind Up, and in 1976 with Brotherhood of Man’s Save Your Kisses for Me.
In 1969, Lulu, who performed Boom Bang-a-Bang came first in a four-way joint tie with France, the Netherlands and Spain.
The UK’s first ever Eurovision victory came 11 years after the annual competition launched with Sandie Shaw’s Puppet on a String in 1967.
Israel has won the competition four times after its debut in the competetion in 1973 as the first non-European country to participate in the event.
MailOnline has contacted Olly Alexander’s representatives for comment.
The BBC declined to comment.
Source: Read Full Article