Eurovision semi-final backlash as fans complain over result 'cancel the contest'
Some Eurovision Song Contest fans were upset with the results after the first semi-final
Eurovision fans were fuming after one of their favourite acts failed to secure a place in the grand final.
The first semi-final of the song contest — which is being held in Vienna this year — took place on Tuesday (May 12), with viewers bowled over by Tamara Živković, who delivered the song Nova zora for Montenegro.
Despite the impressive showing, Montenegro was among the countries knocked out, alongside Estonia, Georgia and Portugal. San Marino, represented by Culture Club icon Boy George, also fell at the final hurdle, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Viewers watching the BBC broadcast in the UK, where Graham Norton, Rylan Clark and Angela Scanlon are the presenting team, were far from pleased with the semi-final outcome. Many insisted Montenegro had been "robbed" following its performance.
"Very sad for Montenegro," one person posted on X, while another wrote: "I'm sorry for Montenegro, they really deserved the final!"
"THEY ROBBED MONTENEGRO," another user posted on the platform, formerly known as Twitter.
"MONTENEGRO out NO ONE TALK TO ME," declared another viewer, with somebody else insisting they "should have gone through".
"Absolutely no words," fumed one fan. "Tamara and the Montenegro delegation did everything. There's not a single thing they could've done better, the performance was perfect. Most robbed entry of the decade."
"Cancel the contest," quipped one viewer, while another questioned: "How did San Marino and Montenegro fail to get through?"
Despite the letdown, fans were delighted for the acts that did secure their place. "My favourites are in the final and I am very happy with that," said one viewer.
The semi-final saw 10 countries advance to the final, among them Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Sweden, Serbia, Greece and Israel. Lithuania, Poland and Moldova also progressed to the next stage of the contest.
The UK is one of the Big Four, alongside Germany, France and Italy, and as such holds an automatic place in the Eurovision Song Contest final.
This year's UK representative is electronic musician Look Mum No Computer, whose real name is Sam Battle. He will take to the stage to perform his track Eins, Zwei, Drei at the competition.
The final of the Eurovision Song Contest is on on BBC One on Saturday May 16 from 8pm
