Ryan O’Shaughnessy has said that he supports the European Broadcasting Union’s decision to cut ties with Chinese broadcaster Mango TV after they edited out the Irish performance during the Eurovision semi-final.
During Ryan’s performance of Together, two male dancers are featured, and the channel cut the performance because of the depiction of a gay relationship.
The EBU decided to terminate their contract with the Chinese broadcaster as a result.
Speaking about the move, Ryan said: “I think it was a good decision, it’s a pity it had to be done but it’s a good decision, it might take China or Mango TV or whatever the production company is a few years to really get what the Eurovision is about which is being inclusive.
“The theme this year is all aboard, it’s about celebrating diversity. That’s one thing I’ve learned from this experience, everyone is very welcoming and when you start to censor certain things that might go against your belief system it, it’s going against the complete theme.”
“EBU were right to revoke those rights because it goes against the ethos of this competition,” he told us.
He echoed these sentiment speaking to Rylan Clarke on the BBC: “From the very start, we’ve just said love is love, whether it’s two guys, two girls or a guy and a girl,” he said.
“So it was a really important decision by the EBU and they haven’t taken this lightly. I think it’s a move in the right direction so I’m happy.”
