Two band members of the Italian rock band Måneskin, namely Damiano David and Thomas Raggi, are occasionally accused of “queerbaiting” by fans. In a recent interview, they react to these accusations (which they consider insane) and correct stereotypes.
What is “queerbaiting” anyway?
What does queerbaiting mean? In short: advertise with queerness, but in reality do not represent the values behind it.
More precisely: The English word “bait” translated into German means “bait”. The term means throwing a lure, in this case queer content, to attract a larger audience. Annually, this is what many companies do during Pride Month: they color their logos and content rainbow colors to show they stand by the LGBTIQA+ community. Although in reality they sometimes do nothing of the sort.
In queerbaiting, they “use advertising to create the image of representing queer people or a homosexual relationship. However, these expectations are not met. In this way, they attract a certain target group without scaring off or even losing the conservative target group.” (Warda: What is Queerbaiting)
Is it problematic that the Måneskin singer wears heels and makeup without being queer?
The band’s lead singer, Damiano David, is straight and has a girlfriend. Guitarist Thomas Raggi is also heterosexual. Nevertheless, both are repeatedly criticized for maintaining a rather gender-neutral style, despite their heterosexuality, often with make-up, high heels, suspenders.
Måneskin commented on the allegations of queerbaiting in a recent interview with The Guardian: “We live very closely with people from the community every day. It’s stupid of queer people, who should be fighting these stereotypes, to call them that and create even more hatred,” says bassist Victoria de Angelis. She and drummer Ethan Torchio belong to the LGBTQ+ community.
Speaking to the Guardian, de Angelis said: “Sometimes the allegations are so extreme. The fact that Raggi and David are straight doesn’t mean they can’t wear makeup?! Or heels.”
David agrees: “Everything Thomas and I do is always filtered by two people who are queer. Of course we don’t experience the same things, but we live very closely with people from the community every day.”
Resistance from “traditional rock ‘n’ roll fans and fascists”
The band also speaks about the opposition they’ve faced from conservatives “and traditional rock ‘n’ roll fans and fascists who hate us with everything they’ve got.” David even says that there is a conspiracy theory circulating in her native Italy: “It says that we became famous because we were paid. That we work with the Italian government to spread this gender fluid culture.”
“We don’t think that real rock music is about these stereotypes of sex and drugs and the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle,” de Angelis later added. “It’s about expression and creative freedom.”
More about Maneskin
The Italian rock band Måneskin became known in 2017 for their participation in the talent show “X Factor”. She won the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song “Zitti e buoni” – since then they have been known worldwide and are touring mainly through the USA and Europe.
The band consists of Damiano David (vocals), Thomas Raggi (guitar), Victoria De Angelis (bass) and Ethan Torchio (drummer). Their current album is called RUSH! and was released on January 20, 2023.
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