Zara Snubs Eurovision — Says No To Stage Over Israel Tie

Pop superstar Zara Larsson has pulled a dramatic U‑turn on Eurovision — refusing to perform on the Malmö stage because she could not, in all conscience, share a spotlight with Israel. The Swedish singer told Sveriges Radio she «said no to Eurovision» and isn’t remotely regretful: «I’m not sad I declined and I would do it 100 times over».

It’s a shocker for organisers and fans alike. Eurovision is one of the biggest TV events on the planet, watched by more than 100 million people, but Larsson said the scale of the show only made the decision clearer. «It didn’t feel right», she said, explaining she could not professionally endorse an event that included a country she sees as responsible for the assault on Gaza.

Her refusal lands in the middle of a larger cultural row at home. More than 1,000 Swedish musicians — including big names — signed an open letter demanding Israel be excluded from the contest, piling pressure on the European Broadcasting Union and fuelling debate about whether entertainment can, or should, stay apolitical.