Music
11 May 18

O'Shaughnessy supports decision to ban Chinese broadcasters

Ireland’s entry in this years Eurovision, Ryan O’Shaughnessy, has supported the decision to block a Chinese broadcaster after they censored his performance in the semi-final due its LGBT content.

The Skerries native’s performance featured two male dancers who told the tale of a relationship coming to an end. Mango TV made the decision to black out O’Shaughnessy’s act.

O’Shaughnessy, who was a finalist of Britains Got Talent in 2012, supported the decision to ban Mango TV. "From the very start we have just said love is love," he told BBC Four. "It doesn’t matter whether it’s between two guys and two girls or a guy and a girl.”

“I think it’s a really important decision by the EBU, they haven’t taken it lightly, and I think it’s a move in the right direction.”

The Chinese broadcasters also blurred out an LGBT flag during Switzerland’s entry and blacked out Albania’s performance because singer Eugent Bushpepa had tattoos on show.

The decision to block China’s Mango TV from showing Eurovision was made by the European Broadcasting Union.

"This is not in line with the EBU's values of universality and inclusivity and our proud tradition of celebrating diversity through music,” said the EBU in a statement.

"It is with regret that we will therefore immediately be terminating our partnership with the broadcaster and they will not be permitted to broadcast the second Semi-Final or the Grand Final."

Ryan O’Shaughnessy will be representing Ireland in the final of Eurovision which takes place on Saturday in Lisbon.