San Marino at Eurovision 2026: Boy George addresses criticism over Israel’s participation, defends Jewish friends ahead of Eurovision 2026 with Senhit and “Superstar”.
Two weeks before the delegations depart for Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Boy George, who represents San Marino alongside Senhit with their song “Superstar”, continues to generate headlines and controversy. Since being selected as the country’s representative, the singer has stirred widespread reactions – most of them stemming from his outspoken support for Judaism and the State of Israel, a stance that stands out in the Eurovision landscape, particularly over the past three years. Now, he has issued a sharp response to pro-Palestinian activists who criticized his participation in the contest due to Israel’s involvement, making a clear and direct statement: “I will never turn my back on my Jewish friends”.
Not Afraid to Respond
From the very first days after being chosen to represent San Marino at the upcoming Eurovision, Boy George did not shy away from addressing criticism. The singer has responded firmly to backlash from Eurovision fans – both those opposing his participation due to Israel’s inclusion and those who simply appear to have developed strong hostility toward him. Beyond responding to critics, the veteran artist has repeatedly spoken out against hatred directed at Israel, emphasizing his support and expressing strong opposition to protests targeting the country.
A Longstanding Connection to Judaism
Last Sunday, Boy George and Senhit performed together for the first time with their Eurovision entry “Superstar” at the London Eurovision Party. Ahead of the event, the singer broke his silence and addressed those condemning his participation due to Israel’s presence in the competition:
“I have many Jewish friends, whom I’ve known since I was 15 or 16 years old. Are people asking me, as someone with principles, to turn my back on my Jewish friends? That is not going to happen – it will never happen […] From the beginning of my career, I wore the Star of David. Go back and look at photos of Culture Club. I feel very connected to the Jewish people. I’m not necessarily connected to Israel. I don’t really have an opinion on that. But the mission of music is to unite people”.
In response to Ireland’s withdrawal from the contest, alongside four other countries last December due to Israel’s participation, Boy George commented:
“Ireland is my mother’s homeland. I hope they’re not too angry. But if they are, that’s out of my control”.
In an even more unusual move, the singer also signed a letter together with over a thousand other artists calling for Israel’s continued participation in Eurovision. The letter stated:
“We believe that unifying events, such as song contests, are critical for bridging our cultural differences and bringing people from all backgrounds together through a shared love of music”.
Following the ongoing controversy surrounding Boy George, attention now turns to whether further developments will unfold before the decisive performance in Vienna. With less than a month to go, fans are watching closely to see how these events might influence the final result for the singer and his Eurovision partner.
Senhit – Who Are You?
Senhit Zadik Zadik is a 46-year-old Italian singer born in Bologna to Eritrean parents.
At the beginning of her career, she performed in numerous musicals such as “Fame”, “The Lion King”, and “Hair” in Switzerland and Germany. In 2002, she returned to Italy, seeking recognition in the Italian music industry. She released her debut album in 2006, followed by another in 2007. In 2009, she released her third album in English.
Senhit was chosen to represent San Marino, a small enclave within Italy, at Eurovision 2011 with the song “Stand By“, which placed 16th in the semi-final. Following Eurovision, she released several English-language singles and became a regular guest on an Italian television show.
In 2014, she changed the spelling of her stage name from Senit to Senhit to mark a fresh new chapter in her life. In 2020, she was selected once again to represent San Marino with the song “Freaky!“, but her participation was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A year later, in 2021, she returned to the Eurovision stage alongside American rapper Flo Rida, finishing 22nd in the final with 50 points.
San Marino at Eurovision 2026
“Superstar” is the title of the song that will be performed by Senhit, who will represent San Marino at Eurovision 2026 and will compete as song number 13 in the first semi-final on May 12th in Vienna, Austria. This marks the third time Senhit will compete in Eurovision, following her previous representations for San Marino in 2011 and 2021. In 2020, she was also selected to perform for San Marino, but her participation was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The song was written and composed by Senhit and Boy George, whose participation alongside Senhit in the contest is still surrounded by some uncertainty, together with several songwriters who have previously written Eurovision hits: Anderz Wrethov, Thomas Stengaard, Kill J, John Emil Johansson, and Jonathan Bellini. The song is performed entirely in English.
Eurovision 2026: This will be San Marino’s 16th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. San Marino joined the competition in 2008 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 2019 when the singer Serhat finished in 19th place with the song “Say Na Na Na”.
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Ido Na’aman is a journalist, content creator, and commentator specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. His extensive knowledge and in-depth familiarity with the Eurovision world are reflected in every article, ensuring reliable, professional, and up-to-date content.
