Eurovision Song Contest 2023 | La Zarra thanks his fans and explains his gesture

A few hours after her participation in the Eurovision final, where she ranked 16^e, Quebecer La Zarra expressed on social networks her pride in having represented France and thanked her admirers. The singer also explained that the finger of honor that she is accused of having made when her results were announced was in fact only a gesture expressing disappointment.

“I wanted to tell you that the gesture I made in the green room and that everyone is taking up on social networks is absolutely not contempt or an insult. And that’s by no means a middle finger,” La Zarra wrote in an Instagram Story, following his Eurovision appearance.

“It’s a gesture of disappointment on my part which means ‘whatever’, which could be translated as ‘so be it’. No more no less. No intention to shock or provoke. I apologize if this was misinterpreted. »

After being ranked 16^e in the final, a very disappointing result, the Montrealer was shown on the screen. In front of the hundred million viewers who followed the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, she lowered then raised her middle finger, her hand open, in a gesture that many interpreted as a middle finger. The sequence, taken up on social networks by many Internet users, caused controversy.

In an interview on BFMTV, La Zarra also said that she has a double culture (she is of Moroccan origin) and that it is more a sign of hands that we make between friends. . The “toz” (derived from the word “fart” in Arabic) is indeed a popular gesture that signifies refusal or exasperation.

The controversy surrounding his gesture took up a lot of space on social networks following the broadcast of Eurovision. La Zarra still wanted to express his pride in having sung his song Obviously for France. “I wanted to thank you for your valuable support! I am [fière] having [représenté] France and all of the French-speaking world! Thank you to Europe and all the fans around the world, ”she also wrote in her story.

She finally congratulated singer Loreen and Sweden, who won Eurovision on Saturday.