Bambie Thug in a trans flag outfit in Eurovision 2024 Photo: X screenshot
Nonbinary Irish musician Bambie Thug wore an outfit bearing the colors of the transgender flag during their witchy performance in Eurovision singing contest semi-finals in Malmö, Sweden on Tuesday.
Thug is the first nonbinary performer to represent Ireland in Eurovision and said they hope their appearance in the competition may help “little queer kids… feel more comfortable” with themselves. Thug’s Tuesday performance won Ireland a spot in the Eurovision final, a coveted spot that Ireland hasn’t gotten since 2018.
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Thug’s performance, singing and dancing to a pop and industrial metal song called “Doomsday Blue,” began with the self-described “ouija pop” musician wearing a black feathered tutu and a hairdo resembling antlers sprouting from their head. Surrounded by candles and sitting in the middle of a pentagram, they then mimicked the conjuring of a demonic spirit: a shirtless, tattooed man with horns and sharpened fangs wearing tattered leather pants and blue body makeup.
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Trained in ballet, Thug and the man seductively danced before the song’s mid-point. Then, Thug removed their black outfit to reveal a skimpy, torn bikini in the pink, white, and blue colors of the trans flag. The audience erupted into cheers, strobe lights flashed, and flames shot up from the stage as the couple finished their dramatic and screeching performance.
the world needs to make Bambie Thug the WINNER this SATURDAY, THIS PERFORMANCE IS INSANE pic.twitter.com/gyymDpsL9t
Thug said their Eurovision performance drew inspiration from Conchita Wurst, the Austrian drag performer who won Eurovision 2014 while performing in an elegant gown and beard. Thug told PinkNews that they hoped to similarly inspire other views by “being authentically them[selves] and not really caring” what others think.
“When someone sees something [that represents them], it allows you to open yourself more,” Bambie told the publication. “Representation is always important, [but] especially now. It’s not the safest world for non-binary and trans people, for any of our community.”
The musician said that parents have begun writing to them about their own non-binary children or their queer kids. “The best messages are always from little queer kids who have been able to feel more comfortable in themselves from having a representative like [me],” Thug added.
“I always say that culture starts within the queer community. We definitely deserve more light on us, all of us. To have [numerous] nonbinaries in the competition, it’s an amazing feat,” Thug continued.
Thug’s outfit for the semi-finals initially included the words “Freedom for Palestine” and “Ceasefire.” However, the European Broadcasting Union forced them to remove the words. Some people have called for countries to boycott Eurovision this year for allowing Israel to compete as the country has led a deadly military campaign against Palestine that has reportedly killed nearly 35,000 Palestinians and injured over 78,000 more.
Some conservative broadcasters in Ireland have also opposed Thug’s presence at the international singing competition, accusing them of promoting “Satanism” since their performance and music incorporates themes of witchcraft.
But in January 29 press statement, the singer said, “If you don’t want to be part of the Haus Of Thug you are not obligated to come on this journey with me… Don’t waste your life hung up [on] hate… [and] don’t be mad because I haven’t forgotten the art of play, fun and creation and you have.”
“I like being part of a cool queer rising scene,” Thug added in an interview with Gay Times. “I also didn’t have that growing up so it’s important to have people you can relate to and have music that speaks to you and allows you more freedom to be yourself – more queer voices is what the world f–king needs.”
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