People weren’t happy with an aspect of the Israeli entry’s performance.
Barzilai’s winning Eurovision Song Contest entry Toy has been criticised by numerous users on social media, with people claiming that the performance appropriated Asian culture.
Israel’s singer Netta Barzilai won the competition with a total of 529 points – beating favourite Cyprus into second place.
Ireland finished respectably in 16th position.
Israel’s contestant donned a traditional kimono dress with her hair up in two buns, as well as performing in front of two walls of Japanese maneki-neko cat figurines.
Cultural appropriation is defined as a concept dealing with the ‘adoption of the elements of a minority culture’ by members of ‘the dominant culture’.
One user tweeted: “Let that sink in a country that is bullying another country for half a century won the Eurovision with an anti-bullying song while acting as a chicken and appropriating Japanese culture.”
Another wrote: “Ok so…I really did love #Israel #Eurovision song, I really did BUT…that cultural appropriation of Japanese culture was super unnecessary!! Why though? I wish they didn’t do that. *sigh*.”
A third Twitter user wrote: “so someone who literally used Japanese culture as a prop won the # Eurovision? good job.”
https://twitter.com/_Shanus_/status/995435965597528064
Ok so…I really did love #Israel #Eurovision song, I really did BUT…that cultural appropriation of Japanese culture was super unnecessary!! Why though? I wish they didn't do that. *sigh*
— Vaneet Mehta, The Lammy Nominated Author (@nintendomad888) May 12, 2018
Love to celebrate diversity with an Israeli singer dressing up as a Japanese woman #Eurovision https://t.co/z24gMW2nfr
— Zing Tsjeng (@misszing) May 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/euastreos/status/995459855828762625
https://twitter.com/songminotrash/status/995437347511644162
https://twitter.com/Alia_Rose_1996/status/995407244140400640?tfw_site=DigitalSpy&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.digitalspy.com%2Ftv%2Fnews%2Fa856979%2Feurovision-2018-israel-winner-netta-accused-cultural-appropration-japan%2F
https://twitter.com/heavenknowsffs/status/995436345240834051?tfw_site=DigitalSpy&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.digitalspy.com%2Ftv%2Fnews%2Fa856979%2Feurovision-2018-israel-winner-netta-accused-cultural-appropration-japan%2F
There was controversy elsewhere at the contest when a protestor ran on stage during the UK’s song performed by SuRie.
Dubliner Ryan O’Shaughnessy was an 11th-hour favourite following his stellar performance at Tuesday’s semi-final.
