Damiano David of Eurovision-winning group Måneskin denies taking cocaine during show
Vocalist Damiano David of the Maneskin rock band representing Italy, the winner of the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest. (Getty/ Vyacheslav ProkofyevTASS)
Damiano David of Eurovision-winning group Måneskin has denied taking cocaine during the show after he was caught on camera leaning over his table.
Italian group Måneskin swept away the competition in the 2021 Eurovision final in Rotterdam on Saturday (22 May) with their entry Zitti e buoni, scoring 524 points while the UK received zero.
But during the broadcast of the final, viewers took to social media to share a clip of David appearing to sniff something off the table during the show, with many suggesting it looked like he was using drugs.
LET'S GO COCAINE #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/KfafSiyuCi
— Nors3 ⟠ (@Nors3) May 22, 2021
At a news conference after their win, as he swigged Tattinger champagne from the bottle, David was asked about the clip by a journalist, who said: “I have to ask this because there was a sequence during the broadcast when you are seen in the background leaning over the table and seem to be snorting something.
“Online, people are suggesting that you are taking cocaine. What was it?”
David vehemently denied the accusation, and said that his bandmate Thomas Raggi had broken a glass.
He continued: “I don’t use drugs, please guys, do not say that. No, please don’t say that. Don’t say that, really. No cocaine, please. Don’t say that.”
“I don’t of drugs….No cocaine please, don’t say that”.
Italy’s #Eurovision lead singer when asked about the video circulating of him appearing to sniff something off the table on live TV.
pic.twitter.com/XekD9f4TrB— Megha Mohan (@meghamohan) May 22, 2021
Following the news conference, Måneskin posted on the band’s official Instagram page to deny the allegations again.
The members wrote in an Instagram story: “We are really shocked about what some people are saying about Damiano doing drugs.
“We really are against drugs and we never used cocaine. We are ready to get tested, cause we have nothing to hide.
“We are here to play music and we are so happy about our Eurovision win and we wanna thank everyone for supporting us.
They added: “Rock ‘n’ Roll never dies. We love you.”
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which runs the Eurovision Song Contest, also released a statement on the rumours and said that David would take a voluntary drug test on his return to Italy.
The EBU said: “We are aware of the speculation surrounding the video clip of the Italian winners of the Eurovision Song Contest in the Green Room last night.
“The band have strongly refuted the allegations of drug use and the singer in question will take a voluntary drug test after arriving home. This was requested by them last night but could not be immediately organized by the EBU.
“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 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.”
Eurovision, beloved by queer fans around the world, welcomed even more LGBT+ representation this year, and Nikkie de Jager – also known by her YouTube name NikkieTutorials – became the first trans host of the competition.
