Russia could refuse to broadcast Ireland’s Eurovision entry over gay romance

Russia could refuse to broadcast Ireland’s Eurovision entry if it features same-sex dancers.

Ireland this month unveiled its entry for the 2018 Eurovison Song Contest, with former Britain’s Got Talent finalist Ryan O’Shaughnessy set to represent Ireland with the song ‘Together’.

The ballad is about a former lover – and while the lyrics do not explicitly reference their gender of the lover, the official music video reveals that the song is about a same-sex couple.

But the entry could lead to a showdown with Russia, which has a famous law banning ‘gay propaganda’.

It is unclear if the live performance itself will feature same-sex dancers – but Russia has threatened to block the broadcast of the performance if it does.

Eurovision rules state that each country’s broadcaster must air all the entries in full, and cannot censor any of the performances.

Singer Ryan O’Shaughnessy himself hit out at the news.

He tweeted: “The Russians are now threatening a broadcasting ban because of my video for ‘Together’. Anti-gay propaganda regime at its finest! Hilarious if you ask me.. #IDareYou”

The row comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and much of Europe.

It did not participate in the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Ukraine, after picking a singer who had flouted Ukrainian law to illegally visit Russian-occupied Crimea.