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DRUGS

Italy’s Eurovision winning singer to take voluntary drug test after viral clip

The singer for Italy's Eurovision Song Contest winning band Måneskin will take a voluntary drug test after speculation arose over a video clip of his behaviour at the competition, organisers said Sunday.

Published: 23 May 2021 15:49 CEST
Italy's Eurovision winning singer to take voluntary drug test after viral clip
Månskin singer Damiano David celebrates after winning Eurovision. Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP
A video clip that appeared to show Damiano David bent over the table as if snorting a line of cocaine went viral on Saturday night. 

This led to David being forced to deny drug use at the press conference after the event. 

“Thomas [guitarist Thomas Raggi] broke a glass … I don’t use drugs, please guys, do not say that. Don’t say that really,” he pleaded. “No cocaine please, do not say that.”

The band later said on their Instagram stories that they were “ready to get tested because we have nothing to hide”.

“We are really shocked about what some people are saying about Damiano doing drugs. We really are AGAINST drugs and we never used cocaine,” they said.

The EBU said evidence at the scene backed up David’s account about the glass smashing.

“The band have strongly refuted the allegations of drug use and the singer in question will take a voluntary drug test after arriving home,” the European Broadcasting Union said in a statement.

“The band, their management and head of delegation have informed us that no drugs were present in the Green Room and explained that a glass was broken at their table and it was being cleared by the singer,” the EBU statement reads.

“The EBU can confirm broken glass was found after an on-site check. We are still looking at footage carefully and will update with further information in due course.”

Member comments

    1. Actually, they DON’T do drugs!
      Damiano took the test and it came back negative.
      It’s the French media wanting to put the dirt on Damiano and the fact that they feel miffed that their singer, Barbara Pravi didn’t win.

  2. Daniela, it was just tongue in cheek and i,m sure your right about those bloody French.
    Its certainly Maneskins year!

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EUROVISION

Sweden among favourites after leaping through to Eurovision final

Cornelia Jakobs, Sweden's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, burst into tears and jumped onto presenter Mario Acampas, after shooting through to the final on Thursday night.

Published: 13 May 2022 08:09 CEST
Sweden among favourites after leaping through to Eurovision final

Jakobs was emotional at the press conference after her victory, telling the story of her progress from an “largely unknown” indie artist to the Eurovision stage. 

“There are a lot of feelings right now in this little body, an extremely large amount of feelings that can’t really fit in, so they’re exploding,” she said, before beginning to cry. “But I’m so happy and overwhelmed by all the support I’ve got from all these fantastic countries.” 

When the time came to pick lots for which half of the final she would appear in, she leapt onto Mario Acampas, the presenter asking questions at the press conference, wrapping her legs around his waist and clasping herself tightly to his torso. 

He then walked her over to the bowl where the lots were lying. 

“I want you to choose the second half,” she said to him. “Imagine that I have a pistol here and on the count of three I’m going to shoot you if you don’t choose.”

He refused to pick for her so she took one herself and got the second half. 

Jakobs, with her song, “Hold me closer”, was the clear favourite to go into the final, and will go through alongside Finland’s The Rasmus, and his song Jezebel, Serbia’s Konstrakta with “In corpore sano”, as well as entries from Belgium, Czechia, Azerbaijan, Poland, Estonia, Australia, and Romania. 

You can see her performance on Thursday in the video below. 

In the final, she will meet the other favourites, which include Ukraine, Italy, and the United Kingdom. 

The final will be shown on Sweden’s state broadcaster SVT at 9pm on Saturday. 

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