Hungary pulls out of ‘too gay’ Eurovision song contest
Move comes amid upsurge in homophobic rhetoric among right-wing MPs
Hungary has withdrawn from the Eurovision Song Contest with claims that the move was taken because the competition is considered “too gay” for the nation’s government.
Although no reason has been given for the decision, The Guardian says the pull-out comes “amid an increase in homophobic rhetoric in Hungary”, with the prime minister, Viktor Orban, launching a “family first” policy.
A source at Hungarian broadcaster MTVA said that employees believe that Eurovision’s association with LGBT+ culture was behind the move. “I was not surprised. It comes from the organisational culture of MTVA,” said the source.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Hungarian website index.hu says unnamed media sources believe the reason for the withdrawal was likely to be that Eurovision was deemed “too gay”. Orban’s spokesman, Zoltan Kovacs, described the index.hu claim as “fake news” but offered no alternative reason for the pull out.
There is already dismay over the development, with EU chief negotiator Guy Verhofstadt taking to Twitter to describe Hungary's decision as “an attack on our European way of life “.
However, some have come out in support. Sky News reports that Andras Bencik, the editor of a pro-government magazine, described the Eurovision Song Contest as a “homosexual flotilla”.
Bencik added: “Many young people thought that this is something for people under 18, but at this event the destruction of public taste takes place with screaming transvestites and bearded women.”
There has been an upsurge in homophobic rhetoric among Hungarian MPs.
Laszlo Kover, the speaker of the Hungarian parliament, recently compared supporters of equal marriage and adoption to paedophiles. “Morally, there is no difference between the behaviour of a paedophile and the behaviour of someone who demands such things,” he said.
Istvan Boldog, an MP from Orban’s party called for a boycott of Coca-Cola after the brand launched an advertising campaign using photographs of a gay couple.
In a statement about the Eurovision withdrawal, MTVA said: “Instead of taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2020, we will support the valuable productions created by the talents of Hungarian pop music directly.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 3, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Free app access for The Week’s subscribers during Royal Mail strikes
Speed Read If you have a subscription to The Week magazine you can read the digital edition on your tablet or phone
By The Week Staff Published
-
Comic Relief to end ‘white saviour’ celebrity trips to Africa
Speed Read Charity’s appeal videos described by critics as ‘poverty porn’ and ‘devoid of dignity’
By Chas Newkey-Burden Last updated
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to star in ‘fly-on-the-wall’ Netflix reality show
Speed Read Former minister accuses couple of ‘exploiting’ royal links with big-bucks deal
By Joe Evans Last updated
-
Royal officials to ‘scrutinise’ Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s $150m Netflix deal
Speed Read Duke and Duchess of Sussex have inked agreement to produce documentaries and films for the streaming service
By Joe Evans Last updated
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pitch mystery project idea to Hollywood
Speed Read The Sussex royals have been shopping their concept around tinseltown since June
By Aaron Drapkin Published
-
Meghan Markle ‘furious’ over Palace’s failure to defend her ‘against true stories’
Speed Read Legal documents say she felt unprotected by the royal ‘institution’ - but insiders claim press team were powerless
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Ronan Farrow: is Harvey Weinstein’s arch-enemy ‘too good to be true’?
Speed Read Pulitzer-winning #MeToo journalist rejects New York Times columnist’s allegations of ‘shakiness’ in his work
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
How coronavirus could shape the news
Speed Read Trust in journalists is down as newspapers face funding crisis that could reshape media landscape forever
By Elliott Goat Last updated