BBC facing calls to drop UK Eurovision hopeful Olly Alexander over his anti-Israel stance
CALLS are growing for the BBC to drop Britain’s Eurovision entrant over his anti-Israel stance.
Olly Alexander signed an open letter in October criticising the country as an “apartheid regime” involved in “genocide”.
The Conservative Party accused the Beeb of “either a massive oversight or sheer brass neck” by selecting Alexander to be the UK’s entrant last week.
Jewish charities have also called for the ex-Years and Years singer, 33, to be replaced for May’s contest in Sweden.
The letter, penned by gay rights charity Voices4London, goes on: “Queer and trans Palestinians have long highlighted that pinkwashing plays a significant role in Zionist propaganda.”
Alexander’s endorsement has sparked fury amongst Jewish groups since it emerged earlier this week.
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Campaign Against Antisemitism, a volunteer-led Jewish charity, insisted the BBC “can and must” cut ties with Alexander.
A spokesman for the group told The Telegraph: “The rhetoric in this letter, which is seemingly endorsed by Olly Alexander, is extreme.
“At a time when nearly seven in 10 British Jews feel afraid to express their identity in public, this must not be the person to represent our country at the Eurovision Song Contest.
“The BBC can and must right this wrong.”
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The singer has not commented.