Irish Eurovision band sack team member for saying a male rapist is not a woman

[Xoxoxoxoxoxox]

Ian Banham - the creative director for the Irish Eurovision Song has been sacked by the other band members because he wrote a tweet calling out the press for referring to a male rapist as a ‘she’.

The band have issued this statement:

Wild Youth is a band that stands for unity and kindness. Our song represents our beliefs as a band. We have cut all ties with lan Banham and will not have him on or near our team or Eurovison journey. We are so sorry for anyone offended by his comments.

They are in effect sacking their band mate and they defending a rapist’s right to be called she’ and they say they stand for ‘kindness’.
There is a backlash, I wonder how much support they will get for this.

https://twitter.com/bandwildyouth/status/1650833255266934784?s=46&t=KoykWa-IFitZMrteWP2pKA

Yes, same here. My eyes still haven’t stopped rolling.

Hope to never hear of them proclaiming their misogynistic 'dude' credentials again. Imagine how it feels being an Irish woman and having those misogynistic gobsh*tes supposedly representing you (women do make up half the country) on the International (well, European) stage. Historically, we've had enough buckos ignoring sexual assault and abuse against women, while lending all their support to the male offenders.

Article about them in todays Indo. Another one that cites their issue with Ian Banham was him posting "on social media regarding trans issues." https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/music-news/we-just-want-to-look-forward-to-the-eurovision-wild-youth-on-parting-ways-with-ian-banham-and-dealing-with-criticism/a703850782.html

Apparently Graham Norton was on Lorraine Kelly yesterday and thinks they might be the dark horses of the competition

But from what the lead singer is saying it sounds like the reviews of the song are not positive.

"He believes they should be judged on their live performance rather than the song alone. "If it is all based on what people think about the songs before the competition even happens then why bother coming here? I think you judge us on our performance on the night and if people don't like that… I will be open to criticism then," he said. "But until we have done our performance, I just don't see what relevance anyone's review of the song has.""

Also since firing Ian Banham they haven't changed any of the staging and state that he was just bringing their vision to life, seems like a waste of money to hire a creative director if you are as amazing as he seems to think he and the rest of the band are.

"Singer Conor O'Donohoe said the staging will not be altered as he and the band have "always driven the creative" when it comes to their performances.
"If anyone has come in to help with the band it's just to help bring an idea that I have to life," he said. "All the creatives and all the ideas on staging and everything... always comes from the band."

Also they're not talking about it anymore. Wonder if they realise that defending rapists is not a good look

"The singer says the online discourse surrounding the decision to part ways with Mr Banham was stressful for the band. "We had a very stressful week last week but now we just want to focus on and look forward to the Eurovision and focus on the positives. That's the most important thing for us now," he said."

GN is the reason why I shall no longer be watching Eurovision. After more than 4 decades.

Of course he is big-upping Wild Youth.

They want to say that they didn’t need IB anyway because their creative cup overfloweth? Nice. Yet another snidey pop.

And of course Wild Youth don’t want to talk about ‘being kind’ to stabbing rapists any more. I don’t think there is a creative notion big enough to make that go away.

I wonder if GN addressed that little nugget on Lorraine?

Graham Norton has his Irish specs on. He says the same every bloody year no matter how shite the Irish entry is.

My Eurovision cd has arrived and I'm currently listening. The Irish entry doesn't stand up to the other entries. It just doesn't.

Staging only counts for so much. I do think that for all the crap about politics and block voting, the best songs are the ones that end up on the left hand side of the board. The more mediocre songs can end up in positions that seem unfair on the right hand side, but the voting system DOES mean the best songs rise to the top. Good staging can give you a boost but if your song is weak it won't change the result.

For anyone who wants a sneak peak of the staging, there are 30 sec clips of every country now out on Youtube. This is how the performances will look on tv next week.

Semi Final One (including Ireland)

Semi Final Two

Ireland's staging is best described as a bloke prancing around in a gold glitter Elvis suit with some bond like graphics. And the clip sounds very flat.

Graham Norton is on glue.

Might leave this here too…

When Iain Banham spoke the truth
It was challenged by Wild Youth
and ‘Be Kind to stabby rapists’ day was made

The backlash was uncanny
And the mealiemouthed wee fanny was spectacularly, utterly dismayed.

See the prize for all their toiling
Was the eurovis shine spoiling
And he didn’t think that that was fair or right

but your song is shite its true
And zarajade’s more chance than you
Of proceeding past a semi Tuesday night.

Hmmm looks like its just semi 1 actually.

Semi 2 later today and big five after that.

Ireland look bloody terrible.

Apologies for Ian’s superfluous ‘i’
twas an auto carrot 😔

I haven't seen it, but good. The sooner these nobs slide back into obscurity the better.

Oh and they got no points on the Eurovision Fan Club vote (which the betting odds look based off)

No chance. And they will be very lucky to get out their semi. After Tuesday they disappear forever into Student Appearances.

That Ireland clip isn't great. And Croatia is definitely erm...interesting!

Ireland's song is very dull indeed. And what's with them wearing glittery sacks over their heads? Is it a fetish thing? Are they trying to be like Daft Punk but bought from a pound shop?

They just sound whiny and defensive in that article @miri1985 . And blatantly trying to cover themselves for still using Banham's choreography/staging.

Isn't choreography intellectual property?

I still haven't listened to the song. But I do wonder if there already were "creative differences" between IB and the band before the tweets came to light, because if they/the song are that bland, they may have already felt insulted by whatever he was telling them needed to happen to make a good Eurovision staging. So that they then leapt at the opportunity to stick the knife in.

I will probably still watch Eurovision with my children but, as Irish abroad, I will have to have a very good explanation for them why I'm not supporting Ireland this year! The GC floodgates may finally open in my house (my daughter is 12 so it was going to all come out sooner or later...)

Ha Brilliant!

The band's interview reminds me of the old Peter Sellers sketch about the imbecile pop star , Twit Conray.

Twit Conray - ' It is my ambition to one day play 'Old Vic' in Shakespeare '
Interviewer - ' You are fond of Shakespeare , Twit?'
Twit Conray - ' Ah.....we are just good friends. '

🤣

All alrighty then. That YouTube clip, oh dear.

Oh for days of Dana, Johnny and all the others.

I don't think any of our previous winners could carry that song.

I can see why they tweeted in support of ZaraJade, the outfit says everything without saying a word.

Everything about it is cringe.

My theory on their perfomance is they saw that Sam Ryder got 2nd (probably 1st without the support votes for Ukraine) last year wearing a sparkly jumpsuit and thought thats all you need to do to win. Major difference is that Sam Ryder has vocal talent, stage presence and a good song. Can't believe how bad yer mans vocals are

Of the rehearsals so far Ireland are by far the worst with those vocals. Tbh I've always found that live bands on TV performances, no matter how good the band have a tendency to have issues with sound production quality. It just doesn't transfer as well and it looks like a classic case of this going on here.

But there ARE other bands in this year's competition (albeit in the other semi final) and they don't appear to be having the same issue.

And that Elvis suit just doesn't look good on him. He looks uncomfortable and hasn't the personality and charisma to pull it off. TBF I seriously doubt that even Bono in his prime could have pulled off that particular jump suit. It's badly cut and just doesn't do anything for him. He's no Harry Styles.

I actually hope they do sort the sound out before next week as I don't want to listen to someone flat and the jumpsuit is embarrassing enough. Ireland has had enough humiliation this year already.

PS it appears Moldova has an ewok performing for them this year and that's just made my day!!!

Sam Ryder's jump-suit wasn't so figure hugging, or so badly fitted in the wrong places.

Voice seems tinny and thin. Can he normally carry a tune, I wonder? Can their overflowing self belief, right on dude preformances really have carried them this far?

Blinkin' heck, what's left? I can't even say they are nice chaps.

If the creative drive is ‘all theirs’ then they can keep it.

I’m all for Norvège . I’m guessing a lot of guys and women will be cheering on Israel. As some used to say, it is a bit ‘one for the dads’. 😉

Posh Sunday newspapers used to have a photo called a ' marmalade dropper'. To try and keep older men interested 😉.

Guessing Israel's entry is more Rihanna than Dustin the Turkey ...

She likes unicorns...

marmalade droppers 🤣

It seemed to involve writhing in a skimpy pvc creation for the 30 seconds they chose to big up themselves Abhannmor but there also seemed to be a nae bad tune to it. Fair doos.

If Dustin was writhing like that, he’d be looking at the big Coop in the sky. Or a pot.

I am still trying to work out why Wild Youth chose their 30 seconds. It was not a treat nor a tease.

Harry Styles he is not. He is about as edgy as Mr Tumble.