Erika Vikman is hoped to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest.
Erika Vikman’s UMK performance, winning song and Eurovision representation have received a lot of criticism. Vikman was crowned last weekend as the winner of the new music competition and is therefore representing Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest ICH KONE.
In social media, their dissatisfaction is now demonstrated by activists who support Palestine. Last year, the Eurovision Song Contest was also subject to boycotting requirements, as Israel, who was in Gaza, was able to participate in visas.
From Yle and the European Broadcasting Company (EBU) (EBU), it has also been required to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest and exclude Israel’s visa by petition. EBU has outlined that Israel can participate this year as well.
Some of those supporting Palestine have shown their wishes directly to Erika Vikman. In his Instagram publications in recent days, the wishes that Vikman would not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.
– I understand that some things can’t be boycotted, apparently Eurovision is such an important professional dream for you. However, you could also participate in the race without silencing discussion about Israel and Palestine. I support you and your songs, but I have to put your Eurovision Song Contest and your account boycott because silence of Palestine is unacceptable, one writes.
– If you really want to be feminist, you really think about your participation in a race where one of the big sponsors is a company that is a genocide country. I know you’re happy with your profit and you will be, but we are not free unless everyone is free. I hope you take the world situation into account and think very carefully about your participation, and will also be commented on in Vikman’s Instagram.
Erika Vikman was chosen last weekend to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest with his song ICH Kom. Pink bröijer
Miisa Nuorgam, an influencer of social media, also commented on the subject on her Instagram account.
– In practice, the main point of everything is that Israel is doing genocide in Gaza and is a big background in Eurovision. When you participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, you also support that genocide and the decision to give Israel to compete in general, wrote in Nuorgam in her Instagram stories.
The stories were visible for 24 hours of their release.
“If you consciously make the decision to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, you should also be able to receive the criticism of refusing genocide to support the subject,” Nuorgam comments.
Miisa Nuorgam took a stand on social media about participating in Eurovision in the discussion. Pete anikari
According to Nuorgam, the subject has even been completely ignored by stamping criticism as a female hatred, which is not about this.
“The fact that a person known as a feminist icon will participate in Eurovision, giving support to the ongoing genocide, and even hides all criticism and block users is problematic,” Nuorgam said.
There is also a discussion on the subject of the artist Chisuna known Christel Roosberg On Instagram account. He is one of the authors of Vikman’s representation.
– Visits to boycott! Required in Roosberg’s social profile.
Roosberg writes that he has received several offensive comments on the subject. He will be published on the subject a few days ago Instagram photo in the comment box.
Chisu aka Christel Roosberg and Jori Roosberg made Vikman’s ICH Kemen song. Jenni Gästgivar
– Nobody thinks that genocide is never okay, says Roosberg.
– Nobody wants hate speech Isn’t that? And it would be good for Palestine and the suffering of people to be the main point [pääpointti] And how we together get visibility – turning against each other has never been a terribly good answer to anything, Roosberg writes.
Iltalehti has not reached Vikman to comment on boycotting requirements.
Vikman has not even commented directly on activists’ demands on social media, but he shared In their Instagram stories Greens’ regional councilor Perttu Jussila an article on the subject.
Jussila writes that the discussion around Vikman has been “absolutely unreasonable and torn from the realities”.
– Those visas are in May. The question of Finland’s involvement, the participation of Israel and who is responsible for this matter is really relevant. But is it really that those swearing in the name of solidarity do not wait for a week or two with their matter? Jussila ponders in her writing.
– It is quite clear that at such a moment you will not get the answers you would like, because one is already subject to a significant load. The artist is also people with a limited lane to deal with different feedback, Jussila points out.
He goes on to say that it is not a surprise if, in such a situation, protecting one’s own coping takes precedence over the debate.
This is how Yle replies
Iltalehti inquired about how Yle is about the discussion of the boycott requirements that were more expected in recent days. Johanna Törn-Mangs, Editor-in-Chief of YLE Creative Content and Media, commented on Iltalehti by email.
He writes that Yle has received some messages through different channels that include requirements for Erika Vikman to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest.
“We have also received some communication supports,” Törn-Mangs states in his message.
Törn-Mangs writes that he understands that many Finns are concerned about the situation in Gaza.
– I think that YLE’s mission is to provide Finns with common experiences, and UMK was already an excellent example. Similarly, the Eurovision Song Contest as the world’s largest music show is doing this task as well as, for example, the Olympics.
He recalls that there is an EBU in the decision-making power of which TV companies participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. EBU has outlined that the Israeli TV company can participate.
-We respect the EBU’s assessment of the TV companies in the race and thus Yle does not boycott the Eurovision Song Contest because of the participation of the Israeli TV company. However, this does not mean that we accept the human suffering caused by military action under any circumstances, Törn-Mangs comments.
He adds that Yle reports to the EBU about the discussion in Finland, but the decision on participating TV companies is made at EBU.