DARA Faced Online Hate Before Eurovision Victory
Bulgarian singer DARA is now celebrated and applauded in her home country after winning the nation's first Eurovision trophy. However, prior to the contest, she faced severe backlash from conservative nationalists who were upset about the name of her song "Bangaranga" and the fact that it was sung in English. She was even threatened on the streets, leading her to temporarily relocate to Greece to prepare in peace.
“After Euro, we now get Eurovision despite the nationalists, Orthodox zealots, and Russophiles,” read a comment on social media following DARA’s victory. Many shared similar reactions.
The flood of hatred towards the young singer poured in from ultraconservative, Orthodox, traditionalist, and anti-European websites and social media accounts for weeks leading up to the contest. Comments like “Dara is the lowest point of de-Bulgarianization and another attempt to annihilate our Orthodox identity,” “A spiritually confused singer,” and “What is Bulgarian about this song?” were abundant.
The public backlash against DARA began as early as February when she won the national selection for Eurovision. The singer was forced to move to Athens, Greece, for two months to avoid harassment on the streets and to prepare for the contest in peace. In an interview with Bulgarian media, she said she does not read comments to avoid being affected by them.
This victory shows that Balkan artists can break barriers and win hearts beyond narrow nationalistic views. But why do we still see such extreme reactions to cultural diversity? It's time to embrace our rich tapestry of traditions and voices!