Chinese censored Ireland’s same-sex Euro dance routine
IRELAND’S Eurovision same-sex dance routine was removed from the air by a Chinese broadcaster due to its depiction of a gay relationship.
It emerged last night that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has terminated its relationship with Mango TV after the broadcaster edited out the stage show to Ryan O’Shaughnessy’s performance.
“This is not in line with the EBU’s values of universality and inclusivity and our proud tradition of celebrating diversity through music,” the EBU said in a statement.
The dance between Alan McGrath (25) and Kevin O’Dwyer (24) is the first in the contest’s 63-year history to feature a same-sex couple.
While Ireland became the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by public vote in 2015, many countries competing in Eurovision still have a poor LGBTQ+ rights record.
The emotive dance routine, however, proved a hit with Eurovision fans.
The dancers have been inundated with messages from teenagers struggling with their sexuality.
“We’ve had such touching messages from people around Europe who aren’t out, or who are in the closet,” Alan said.
“It’s a great thing because Kevin and I were both at that point in our lives at some stage. It’s great to be able to send out such a positive message.”
Ireland’s Eurovision hopeful O’Shaughnessy pushed to include the groundbreaking same-sex dance performance on stage, as he wanted to show love is universal.
The dancing duo said they didn’t expect the standing ovation they received from the live audience during Tuesday’s semi-final.
“I wasn’t sure if there was going to be maybe a small reaction, but when I heard it I got really emotional,” Alan said.
Kevin added: “We’ve had so many messages from people we don’t know, and young people saying how much it means to them and how important it is what we’re doing.”
When the duo filmed the song’s hugely popular music video in Dublin’s Temple Bar, they explained they still were in the dark over whether they’d be needed in Lisbon.
Kevin explained: “We knew it was in talks, but until we saw the reaction to the video we weren’t sure. But the video did so well and got a great reaction.”
Despite their young age, the pair are two of Ireland’s most experienced professional dancers.
As well as backing Ryan Dolan in Eurovision 2013, Alan has gone on a year-long US tour with Celtic Woman, as well as recently performing on TV3’s ‘Ireland’s Got Talent’.
Meanwhile, Kevin has performed extensively abroad, after training for three years in London.
Ireland performs in the final of the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest tomorrow, starting at 8pm on RTÉ One.