“I too have an ambivalent relationship with like the Union Jack and what that represents to people because it can feel divisive, it can feel nationalist,” he said.
“But it can also feel like a representation of what’s good about the UK and what makes it good… the inclusivity, the diversity. I am choosing to focus on those aspects of what I believe being in the UK has given me, in my upbringing as well. So, you know, I hope to reclaim the Union Jack in a positive way.”
On that theme, Alexander said his performance – which sees him and his dancers don boxing gear in a post-apocalyptic locker room – would celebrate LGBTQ+ inclusivity.
“As an artist I love to kind of provoke a little bit and to cause a little bit of discussion and intrigue… and of course I said right at the beginning of this process, I plan to be as gay as possible – and what’s gayer than a locker room?” he said.
This year’s competition has been mired in controversy. Olly Alexander has faced calls to withdraw from the song contest amidst ongoing demands for a boycott due to Israel’s participation in the competition.
Queers for Palestine – a collective of more than 450 queer artists, individuals and organisations – published an open letter to Alexander, urging him to quit the competition in protest of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
“We share the vision of queer joy and abundance you’ve offered through your music, and share your belief in collective liberation for all,” the letter read. “In this spirit, we ask you to heed the Palestinian call to withdraw from Eurovision… There can be no party with a state committing apartheid and genocide.”
In a statement published on X – and signed by several other Eurovision artists – Alexander declined to pull-out, but called for “an immediate and lasting ceasefire, and the safe return of all hostages”.
“We firmly believe in the unifying power of music, enabling people to transcend differences and foster meaningful conversations and connections. We feel that it is our duty to create and uphold this space, with a strong hope that it will inspire greater compassion and empathy.”
In the past, Alexander signed a letter describing Israel as an “apartheid regime”. In an interview with The Times, he reportedly broke down crying describing the situation.
“Obviously there are a lot of things I wish were different,” he said. “And this is so much bigger than me and Eurovision, it really is.”
Speaking in a roundtable a few days ahead of the event, the singer did not address the controversy, instead speaking more broadly about his hopes and nerves ahead of the event.
“I’m always a bit nervous and you know, something like this, with so many people watching and the TV is live – there are all these elements that are out of your control and that’s out of your control,” he said.
“People are there to judge and being judged can feel kind of quite overwhelming because it’s like, ‘Oh, no, I hope people don’t judge me too harshly.’”
Asked who he thought his biggest competition was, Olly Alexander said that there was “no clear front-runner” – but shouted out Switzerland, Ukraine, Italy, Sweden, Spain and Croatia as particularly exciting entries.
