Eurovision fans think Switzerland’s Nemo Mettler made a serious faux pas minutes after being crowned this year’s winner.
Try not to wince as you watch below:
I mean, it wouldn’t be the annual song contest without plenty of bizarre and viral moments, would it? From viewers left in shock after seeing Finland’s entry with their ‘penis out’ on stage to the awkward jokes from the presenters, last night’s (11 May) show in Malmo, Sweden, had plenty.
After the 25 music acts had all performed (it was supposed to be 26, but The Netherlands were controversially disqualified), and fans sat through various extra performances and recaps, the winner was crowned.
Nemo won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest after singing ‘The Code’ while balancing on a tipping metal disc.
The 24-year-old scored 365 points with the juries and 226 from the public to collect the trophy from last year’s winner Loreen.
Nemo won the contest. (TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images)
And giving an encore of their winning song, the singer dropped to the floor, waving the coveted glass microphone at the cameras.
And as they went to stand back up, using the trophy to steady themselves, fans spotted that the trophy had been broken – less than a minute after our TV presenter Graham Norton said on the voice over: “Don’t break the trophy.”
You could literally hear the clink of it breaking.
Nemo stood back up as the bottom half of the glass microphone remained awkwardly on stage. Speaking at the Eurovision press conference, the winner confirmed they did in fact break the trophy – and their thumb, it seems.
Users laughed on X: “When @GrahamNorton_01 tells you not to break the #eurovision trophy – AND THEN YOU DO!!!”
Others wrote: “Graham saying ‘don’t break the trophy’ followed by the clink of Eurovision 2024 winner Nemo smashing the trophy is iconic.”
And many put a twist on the song’s lyrics as they added: “Not only did Nemo break the code but also their thumb and Eurovision trophy.”
The trophy broke on stage. (TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images)
With one writing: “Chaotic energy – I’d also accidentally break the trophy 5 minutes after getting it.”
Much of this year’s contest was shadowed by controversy as demonstrators gathered in Malmo, protesting Israel’s participation.
Nemo told the Eurovision press conference: “I have to say this whole experience was really intense, and not just pleasant all the way.
“There were a lot of things that didn’t seem like it was all about love and unity. And that made me really sad and at the same time… there was so much love here as well.
“And there was so much coming together and there was so many different cultures meeting and, people that just are full of positivity, love for music and that really gives me hope.
“And I know these people exist, and they exist in the world, but … we need to work to create such an environment that we need to ask ourselves, what is such an environment? And what do we want to stand for?
“And I really hope that Eurovision continues and can continue to stand for peace and love in the future. I think that needs a lot of work still.”