France Televisions is reportedly threatening to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 if KAN doesn’t drop “Duz Pua” according to Ynet.
Update – 19:20 CET – EBU has confirmed it is meditaing between France Televisions and KAN – More details here.
Update – 21:00 CET – France Televisions has confirmed it is not threatening to boycott Eurovision 2019 – More here.
Ynet reports that the French national broadcaster is threatening to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest 2019, if host broadcaster KAN doesn’t dropped a planned series to be aired around Eurovision. ‘Duz Pua’ which was commissioned by KAN is focused on a French singer of Muslim origin who is taking part in Eurovision. The singer in the series is pretending to be gay and is suspected of being a terrorist.
France Televisions has according to the report told KAN that if it does not withdraw its plans to air the show that it will not compete in Eurovision 2019. France is being represented by Bilal Hassani, a French singer of Moroccan heritage who is openly gay.
The report states that the European Broadcasting Union is now trying to mediate between France Televisions and KAN. Jon Ola Sand is also currently in Israel talking to KAN according to Ynet.
Ynet adds that KAN has said it will not drop the planned TV series. The broadcaster argues that it has the right to air the show due to free speech laws. The EBU has not responded to Ynet’s request for comment.
Source: Ynet
France was one of seven countries to participate in the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. Since then they have participated in every contest aside from 1974 and 1982. Their withdrawal in 1974 was caused by the death of President Georges Pompidou, while 1982’s withdrawal was a result of TF1 declining to enter the contest. France has won the contest on five occasions, the most recent being in 1977 when Marie Myriam performed “L’oiseau et l’enfant”. France’s best result of the 2000s came in 2001 when Natasha St-Pier finished 4th in Copenhagen, Denmark.
If France withdraws, they’ll be in huge trouble. 🙁
KAN has the right to air their show, but France also has the right to object.
The show must have been planned long before Bilal was selected, but they must also understand that Bilal has already been subjected to threats and abuse. Out of basic decency KAN should scratch the show, or at least wait until Eurovision is over before they broadcast it.
I hope KAN’s programmers will see what a harmful effect it could have and weigh that in their decision.