Russian politician claims bearded lady's Eurovision win marks the 'end of Europe'
Getty Images/RAGNAR SINGSAAS
Reaction from Russian politicians and stars following "bearded lady" Conchita Wurst's win in the Eurovision Song Contest was swift and nasty. The victory by Wurst, who is the alter ego of Austrian performer Tom Neuwirth, was blasted on Russian state television as the "end of Europe" by nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
On Twitter, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin shared in the outrage, adding that the Eurovision results "showed supporters of European integration their European future: a bearded girl." And it wasn't just politicians. Russian rapper Timati commented on his Instagram account that Wurst's win was a result of a "mental illness of contemporary society."
Judging by Wurst's comments during Saturday's trophy presentation, she's probably unfazed by her haters. "This night is dedicated to everyone who believes in a future of peace and freedom. You know who you are. We are unity and we are unstoppable," she said.
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Jordan Valinsky is the lead writer for Speed Reads. Before joining The Week, he wrote for New York Observer's tech blog, Betabeat, and tracked the intersection between popular culture and the internet for The Daily Dot. He graduated with a degree in online journalism from Ohio University.
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