"no longer feel this trophy belongs on [their] shelf"
"Last year I won Eurovision and with it I was awarded the trophy. And even though I'm immensely grateful for the community around this contest and everything this experience has taught me both as a person and artist, today no longer feel this trophy belongs on my shelf,"
"Eurovision says it stands for unity, inclusion, and dignity for all. Those values made this contest meaningful to me."
"But Israel's continued participation, during what the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry has concluded to be a genocide, shows a clear conflict between those ideals and the decisions made by the EBU,"
Charlie McGettigan announced he will return his 1994 Eurovision trophy to the EBU in protest at Israel's continued participation. The EBU declined to expel Israel over its conduct in the Gaza war. 2024 winner Nemo already handed back their trophy and cited a conflict between Eurovision values and Israel's inclusion amid a UN commission conclusion of genocide. Five countries have announced plans to boycott the 2026 contest. McGettigan said Nemo reached out via social media, described Nemo as sincere and intelligent, and decided to return his trophy after their exchange.
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