Ireland’s 2024 Eurovision contestant Bambie Thug has shared that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has launched an investigation regarding alleged violations of the competition’s rules by the Israeli participants.

The artist approached the EBU regarding comments made by the Israeli television broadcaster KAN during their semi-final performance, which Bambie Thug claimed violated the rules.

KAN brought up Bambie Thug's political views during their performance, saying that their feelings about Israel are hostile.

According to the Irish representatives, this violated EBU regulations and influenced viewers’ vote.

Following this year’s semi-final, Bambie Thug had spoken up about being ordered to change their stage makeup, as the artist had written the words 'Ceasefire’ and ‘Freedom for Palestine’ in the early medieval ogham alphabet.

The singer explained that they were asked to remove both writings, but that their delegation fought until the EBU agreed to letting 'Ceasefire' remain, before eventually going back on their decision an hour before Bambie Thug's call time

The investigation involves other incidents, such as the Israeli’s performers’ alleged harassment of other delegations as well as the illegal filming of multiple participants.

These circumstances apparently led Bambie Thug to miss their dress rehearsal ahead of the Grand Final. At the time of the incident, they posted on their instagram page: “There was a situation while we were waiting to go to stage for the flag parade rehearsal which I felt needed urgent attention from the EBU

“The EBU have taken this matter seriously and we have been in a discussion about what action needs to be taken. This means I have missed my dress rehearsal.”

Bambie Thug was Ireland's first Eurovision entrant to make it to the final since 2018. The Macroom artist finished sixth place overall, marking Ireland's best performance at the contest since the year 2000.

During an interview with Ireland AM, the singer shared that there was a “lot of pushback behind the scenes from me and other artists”, while adding that they cannot share further information about what happened in Malmö until the investigation is over.

Bambie Thug will kick off their Crown The Witch Irish tour in Belfasts's Limelight on October 28, followed by headline show at The Academy in Dublin on October 31.