This Saturday, May 13, 2023, the biggest musical show in the world brought together 26 candidates in a competition all in glitter, scenography and pyrotechnics. And, for the first time in the history of Eurovision, which took place this year on the stage of the Liverpool Arena, in the United Kingdom, the European countries were not the only ones to participate in the final vote. Chosen to sing in 6e position his title Obviously, the candidate representing France, La Zarra, appeared suspended on a platform rising up to 3 meters above the stage in a shiny black and red dress, a small fascinator-beret, surrounded by a very long train… A spectacle surely more impressive in the room than outside. the screen because, even if her performance was hailed by the majority of Internet users, the Quebecoise did not manage to win only 54 points from the jurors of the concerted countries. And the vote of the wider public did not allow the singer to climb very high in the rankings… Result: La Zarra ranked sixteenth out of 26, with a total of 104 points only. Nothing to worry about Sweden who exploded the counters with 583 points! Singer Loreen, who performed with her title Tattoos, indeed seduced the planet that evening, notably by collecting the numerous and precious “12 points” of the other nations. If the screen showed us very moved and above all very surprised, the one that the bookmakers had been giving the winner for several days was nevertheless a regular in the competition: she had already participated in Eurovision in 2012 and above all won first place with her song Euphoria! With this new victory, Sweden becomes, tied with Ireland, the country which has collected, with 7 victories, the most trophies.
FLASH | The reaction of French artist La Zarra when the public votes were revealed at the#Eurovision . She finished 16th in the contest won by Sweden.#Eurovision2023pic.twitter.com/fD8L9c1cFJ
— Cerfia (@CerfiaFR) May 13, 2023
La Zarra she left normal without saying goodbye #Eurovisionpic.twitter.com/cUD5sFxBHO
— bilouuuu (@BilelHsain1) May 13, 2023
It was “absolutely not” a middle finger but “a gesture of disappointment”, explains this evening @LaZarra_. #lazarra#EUROVISION#EUROVISION2023#Francepic.twitter.com/5ZKAAwkIeI
— Benoit Daragon (@bendarag) May 14, 2023
“It’s not a negative gesture, it’s a gesture of disappointment”
But what everyone is talking about above all, the day after this great competition, is that when the results were announced, while she was being filmed, La Zarra made a gesture in front of the camera. Many Internet users claim to have seen a middle finger and take offense on social networks! However, the beauty immediately denied this growing controversy at a press conference following the musical event. At the microphone of BFMshe assures: “You have to understand that, although I represent France, I also have a double culture and it’s a bit generational, it’s not a negative gesture, it’s a gesture of disappointment that we use between friends. I can understand that overseas (sic) (across the Atlantic, editor’s note), it is considered as another gesture”, she explained hotly in front of French journalists in the press room. Another point criticized: the fact that the artist left the “Green Room” before the end of the announcement of the results, as we could see on Twitter. The singer says she left because she sat for long hours! “And my bladder is very small. I had to get up to relieve myself”, she assured. However, she would have returned before the conclusion of the big show…
VF