Eurovision: Why Cyprus s entry El Diablo has caused religious controversy yahoo.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from yahoo.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
In a statement, the church’s highest decision-making body claimed that the track “praises the fatalistic submission of humans to the devil’s authority”. They also claim that it “promotes his worship”.
Andreas Frangos, the chairman of Cypriot television channel CyBC, defended the song and said that it will not be withdrawn from the competition.
CyBC have described the track as reflecting “an age-old battle between good and evil”, and specifically a woman trapped in an abusive relationship with a man. They denied that it encouraged devil worship.
Singer-songwriter James Newman will represent the UK at the 18 May event. He had previously been announced as the UK’s representative for 2020’s Eurovision Song Contest, which was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Eurovision: Why Cyprus s entry El Diablo has caused religious controversy msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Cypriot entry for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest has been accused of glorifying Satanism. Elena Tsagrinou’s “El Diablo” will represent Cyprus at the annual event, which will be held on 18 May, but has faced a backlash from Christian groups in the country. The track finds Tsagrinou singing about falling in love with a villainous man who she compares to Satan. “I gave my heart to el diablo,” she sings. “Because he tells me I’m his angel.”.
Christian protesters have argued that the song, entitled El Diablo, promotes satanic worship.
However, the song’s performer Elena Tsagrinou, and the broadcaster have argued that the song has been misinterpreted by protesters, and the song is, in fact, about an abusive relationship.
Protesters have gathered in Cyprus, outside of the state’s national broadcaster, demanding that the country’s Eurovision song entry be withdrawn. Pic: Getty Images
The singer told The Associated Press: ‘The song sends a strong message, one against any form of abuse, such as the one conveyed in El Diablo.
‘In these Me Too Movement times, that message is extremely relevant and can be felt not only in Cyprus but also across Europe and beyond. We must all embrace the true and intended message of the song.’