I’d previously assumed that the logo that showed up on the title screens for Moroccanoil was just another state owned oil company putting sponsorship money into random things, but the haircare ad at the end of yesterday’s broadcast let me to do some investigating.
It turns out Moroccanoil is an Israeli company and I haven’t seen many people talking about the potential conflict of interest here that might explain the EBU’s shady behaviour this year.
I did find this article about them from 2015 which links to a video of sales reps from the company partying in what “may be” the occupied west bank. They also do appear on various BDS lists.
There is also this article from The Sun which does connect this to Eurovision this year, but it’s from the sun so honestly that just makes the whole thing seem less credible.
Given the lack of information that I’ve found, I’m wondering what people here think? Do you know anything else about this? Do you think the EBU’s actions are related to this sponsorship? Do we even care because their behaviour was shitty whether their motivation was from the sponsorship or more directly political?
Undoubtedly, yes. Otherwise they would have been more transparent about it / never taken the sponsorship in the first place.
I believe the EBU when they say they’re not a political organisation / competition. I also believe that they don’t give two shits about human rights violations one of their members is committing because the money is too good. They’re not concerned with politics, they’re concerned with money.
And that’s not a reflection on the EBU, that’s a reflection on Europe and European attitudes in general. There might be some outrage here or there and a few protests but ultimately Europeans don’t give a shit. Same with the US. Weapons and money are still funneled into Israel and this won’t stop. Illegally seized land is still illegally seized and it won’t be returned. UN mandates are still ignored and they won’t be respected. Palestinian children will still be bombed by Israel on the off chance they might grow up and potentially join Hamas and that won’t stop.