Madonna to perform at Eurovision in Israel with 'political' songs
Madonna is due to perform two songs at the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel next month, amid controversy.
Israeli media has reported that production officials reviewing the Queen of Pop's planned songs found one of them to be inappropriate for the audience and upbeat atmosphere of the competition.
There are also unofficial reports that the singer filmed a political advertisement that would “lead to controversy,” although it is unclear whether this is related to the song believed to be under dispute.
Although Madonna’s press team confirmed the news to the BBC, it is yet to officially be announced by the Eurovision organisers.
In a statement, the EBU said: “No final decisions have been made, or agreements signed, regarding the interval acts and potential guest performers for Eurovision Song Contest 2019. Official news and updates will come directly from the Eurovision channels in due course.”
This year's competition, which is being hosted in Tel Aviv after Netta Barzilai won the contest in Portugal last year, has been criticised by activists.
An open letter to the BBC published in the Guardian in January called for a boycott to the contest.
The signatories included fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and film director Ken Loach, who criticised Israel’s “systematic violation of Palestinian human rights.”
In 2018 Lorde, Shakira and Lana Del Ray were among performers to cancel scheduled concerts in Israel after mounting pressure from activists.
During the 2014 Gaza war, Madonna posted a picture of flowers on Instagram with the caption: "These flowers are like the innocent children of GAZA! Who has a right to destroy them? No One!!!! CEASE FIRE! #peaceinthemiddleeast."
Madonna has longstanding ties to Israel and has previously expressed her love for the country.
She launched her MDNA tour in Tel Aviv in 2012 and studies Kabbalah, a mystical offshoot of Judaism, although in 2015 she said she does not affiliate herself with any specific religious groups.
The performance, which will include a new song from Madonna’s upcoming album, is expected to cost around $1 million to stage and include an entourage of 160 people.
It is being financed by Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams and will be Eurovision’s most expensive performance to date.
