German stars and newspapers have called for a Eurovision boycott after their entrant came in last place in this year’s contest. Furious protesters have demanded the country step back from the competition due to a perceived anti-German bias. Despite placing at rock bottom in previous years, Lord of the Lost’s dismal 18 points has left the country with a particularly bitter taste, with high-profile entertainers calling for the country to withhold funding.
Writing on Instagram, Thomas Gottschalk, one of Germany’s most popular radio hosts, called on public network ARD – Germany’s annual Eurovision broadcasters – to stop supporting the competition altogether.
He claimed that the rest of Europe is “di***** us around when it comes to the judging”.
The celebrity added that people living on the continent “simply don’t like us”, with newspapers joining him in chorus.
Tabloid publication Bild asked why the country was “still putting ourselves through this”.
Germany has struggled with its international reputation in recent months, with the country’s government coming under fire for its sluggish backing of Ukraine.
But the nation turned its back on its longstanding policy of not shipping lethal weapons aboard after Russia’s invasion commenced in 2022. And one day after the May 13 contest, Chancellor Olaf Scholz greenlit an ambitious nearly £2.3 billion package, the largest yet.
