With just days to go until Wild Youth arrive in Liverpool for Eurovision 2023, the band have scrapped the creative director for their performance.
Changing the creative director at the last minute
Initially, Wild Youth were announced to be directed by Ian Banham, a member of 3Rings Talent, on the 21st of April. Banham would work with the band to provide the outline of their performance in Liverpool on the 9th of May.
However, it emerged that Banham had posted a number of posts on social media using transphobic language and sentiments. He also made several tweets insinuating that Ukraine won the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 purely out of pity. These posts were extended to a wider audience through the ESC Discord Twitter account.
(Trigger warning: the following thread contains some of the aforementioned tweets from Ian Banham. Those who do not wish to read the statements should scroll down.)
Following this, public outcry spread throughout the Eurovision community. Eventually, the band responded to the tweets, saying that Ian Banham had been dropped from the creative team. The band posted on Twitter:
Wild Youth is a band that stands for unity and kindness. Our song represents our beliefs as a band. We have cut all ties with Ian Banham and will not have him on or near our team or Eurovison journey. We are so sorry for anyone offended by his comments.
Wild Youth, Irish representatives at Eurovision 2023
Adding to this, Wild Youth’s lead singer Conor O’Donohoe added:
As well as this, the band noted that neither broadcaster RTÉ nor the Head of Delegation Michael Kealy were aware of the posts before he was hired as a creative director.
As a result, the Irish delegation is currently without a creative director. One will be hired in time for the performance in Liverpool and may be announced in due course.
Ireland’s Eurovision journey
In 1965, Ireland made their debut in the Eurovision Song Contest with Butch Moore and the song “Walking the Streets in the Rain”, which managed to place 6th. Since their debut, Ireland has participated 55 times (making the Grand Final 45 times), and has won the competition seven times, which is currently the record for most wins.
Ireland’s latest Eurovision participation saw them being represented by Brooke Scullion, with her song “That’s Rich”. She placed 15th in the semi-final, receiving 47 points from the jury and televote.
What do you make of Wild Youth’s decision to scrap their creative director? Who would you like to see replace him? As always, let us know how you feel by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok as we look ahead to the rehearsals for Eurovision 2023!
News Source: Wild Youth
Photo Credit: Mollie McKay / RTÉ
