Irish broadcaster RTÉ to air 'Father Ted' Eurovision episode in boycott of song contest
NME • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Irish broadcaster RTÉ will air a Father Ted episode instead of the Eurovision Song Contest final on May 16 as part of its boycott over Israel’s participation in the event.
- The boycott follows similar actions by Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain, with RTÉ choosing the Eurovision-themed Father Ted episode "A Song For Europe" to counter-program the contest.
- Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan condemned RTÉ’s decision as antisemitic, calling for the resignation of RTÉ’s Director General and launching a petition against the boycott and use of the show.
- An investigation by The New York Times revealed that Israel’s government conducted a state-backed campaign to use Eurovision as a soft power tool, sparking controversy over the contest's integrity.
- The European Broadcasting Union decided not to hold a vote on Israel’s participation, while RTÉ cited the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the reason for its boycott, amid calls from cultural groups to exclude Israel from Eurovision.