EURO BASHING
Olly Alexander breaks silence on Eurovision backlash on ITV’s Lorraine
Watch Olly speak about his 'wardrobe malfunction' in the video above
OLLY Alexander has spoken for the first time since a flood of backlash over his Eurovision Song Contest entry.
The star peformed his song Dizzy during last night's Eurovision semi-final.
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Olly, 33, appeared on ITV's Lorraine today via a video link, and the presenter brushed off criticism from some fans over his racy performance.
She said Dizzy was a "banger" and gushed: "Those dancers are just fantastic aren't they?
"I would have loved to have been in that (music) video."
Olly replied to Lorraine: "They are so fit, they're so strong, their performance, they're so in character, we've really pushed it. The team is fantastic. "
The singer also revealed his semi-finals show was struck by technical problems.
Speaking via video link from Sweden, the star went on: "We had a little wardrobe malfunction and had to improvise but that's fine - it's live TV."
He continued: "The whole Eurovision experience is wild.
"Last night was amazing. It was the first time performing in the arena and on stage."
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Olly has already secured a place in the final at Malmo Arena on May 11 as one the contest's 'five big countries'.
Eurovision lovers hit out after first seeing a glimpse of the It's A Sin star's performance of Dizzy on the BBC's Eurovision social media page.
Olly Alexander’s puts on racy Dizzy performance days before final
Some compared him to fellow pop star Sam Smith, famed for their shock-factor antics on stage.
A first look saw Olly sporting a plastic jock strap over red combat trousers as a throng of semi-naked dancers gyrated around him.
A post on the BBC's Eurovision page said: "Come through @ollyalexanderr
"If this is just the rehearsal, just know we’re in for a SHOW."
One person remarked: "Horrible. Family friendly? It looks like a pornographic movie…"
"As a gay guy this is way too over sexual tbh, this is something for OnlyFans not for Eurovision," one more typed beneath a post from BBC Eurovision on Instagram.
A third irritated viewer commented beneath the clip: "If this is the definition of being gay, then I must be straight. Nevertheless Go Britain to win!"
Another said: "Love the song. Hate the unnecessary sexual gyrating all over the stage, very much Sam Smith vibes which is why I went off him too."
However, others loved Olly for bringing gayness to the show.
One said: "When olly said gay for eurovision 2024 he meant it i love him."
Eurovision’s biggest scandals
Maneskin - ITALIAN band Maneskin lit up the stage with their bare-chested, punk-funk rock and won the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
In the green room backstage they were acccused of taking drugs, with the European Broadcasting Union releasing a statement that denied "drug use took place".
Hatari - ICELAND's music group Hatari shocked viewers with their bondage performance in 2019 - and then landed in hot water over their political protest.
The techno group waved Palestine flags in the green room, in protest of Israel's occupation of Palestine.
Maruv - UKRAINE act Maruv was a hot favourite to win in 2019, but the country pulled out of the competition when she refused to sign a contract banning her from performing in Russia.
Romania - ROMANIA got kicked out of the competition in 2016 after a row over money and failing to make payments to the European Broadcasting Union.
Same sex kiss - FINLAND's Krista Siegfrieds performed her song Marry Me in 2013 in a wedding dress.
She was joined by a throng of female dancers and turned around to kiss one of them during the performance.
A second shared: "2024 might just be the gayest Eurovision so far and Olly came to make sure it is!!!"
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One more said: "The staging! Olly for the win!"
Bookmakers Coral are currently saying the UK is 50-1 to win, with odds of 8-1 to finish last and 16-1 to score the dreaded nul points.