Français
Español
English
Portuguese
The image showed a laptop with stickers reading “AM ISRAEL FCKING CHAI” and “FCK HMS.”
By Shula Rosen
Denmark’s 2026 Eurovision contestant Søren Torpegaard Lund addressed backlash after sharing an Instagram story that viewers interpreted as expressing support for Israel and opposition to Hamas, saying the laptop shown in the post was not his and that he had not noticed the stickers on it, The Jerusalem Post reported.
The image, posted last week, showed a laptop with stickers reading “AM ISRAEL FCKING CHAI” and “FCK HMS,” prompting Israeli Eurovision fans to welcome what they viewed as a show of solidarity following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people.
The photo also showed a Disney movie playing on the laptop, which was placed on a bed surrounded by snacks.
Lund later clarified his intent in a statement on Instagram, writing: “I can see that something I shared has created a lot of reactions. That was never my intention. To be completely clear: The computer shown in the story is not mine. I’m a person who meets and works with many different people, and I fundamentally believe in respect, love, and making space for one another. My focus is my music and the sense of community I hope to create through it. That’s what I’m bringing with me to Eurovision. Love, Søren.”
The post was deleted, but discussion continued online. On the website Eurovision Fun, Giannis Argyriou wrote, “Although the stickers could also be read simply as opposition to Hamas rather than a clear stance on the Gaza conflict… critics quickly voiced disappointment, with some even calling for his exclusion from the contest, while certain comments escalated into harsh and offensive remarks.”
He added that “nevertheless, the discussion did not fade, as users continued to share screenshots and debate his position. Some even welcomed the deletion, viewing it as a step back from the implied message … Despite the online controversy, such incidents rarely have a decisive impact on an artist’s trajectory in the competition.”
Reactions from users varied. One X user wrote, “According to the comments, the laptop belongs to an Israeli friend of his, and the story was deleted due to hate messages, but regardless, looks like we found who to give our 12 points to.”
Another Instagram user wrote, “It is beyond weird that we live in a world where it is now controversial to be critical of a terror organization.”
The European Broadcasting Authority declined to hold a vote on Israel’s participation despite calls from some countries for its exclusion. The Netherlands, Iceland, Ireland, Slovenia, and Spain withdrew from the competition.
Eurovision 2026 will take place in Vienna in May.
Do You Love Israel? Make a Donation - Show Your Support!
Donate to vital charities that help protect Israeli citizens and inspire millions around the world to support Israel too!
Now more than ever, Israel needs your help to fight and win the war -- including on the battlefield of public opinion.
Antisemitism, anti-Israel bias and boycotts are out of control. Israel's enemies are inciting terror and violence against innocent Israelis and Jews around the world. Help us fight back!
