Malaysian broadcaster censors Philippines’ drag queen spokesperson during Eurovision Asia voting
Eurovision Asia 2026 took place a few hours ago, marking the first edition of the competition in Asia. 11 countries took part in the event, celebrating music, culture and unity across Asia. However, behind the glamorous show, a controversial moment occurred when a broadcaster from one of the participating countries chose to hide the appearance of the Philippines spokesperson, drag queen and famous Filipino television personality Vice Ganda, during the jury voting. The incident has raised suspicions of censorship based on LGBT identity.
A censorship controversy has emerged following the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026, after Malaysian broadcaster TV3 reportedly censored the Philippines’ drag queen spokesperson, Vice Ganda, during the live jury voting sequence.
Vice Ganda, a well-known Filipino television personality and drag performer, was selected to announce the Philippines’ jury points during the Grand Final in Bangkok. However, viewers watching the Malaysian broadcast appear to have been unable to see the spokesperson during the presentation of the country’s votes.
The incident has raised questions about LGBTQ+ representation in Eurovision Asia and whether the competition’s message of diversity and inclusion is being reflected by all broadcasters airing the show.
Unity Through Music, But Not on Screen?
Eurovision Asia was created to bring together different countries, cultures and identities through music. However, the decision to hide Vice Ganda from Malaysian viewers raises an uncomfortable question: are all participating countries equally willing to embrace the diversity that comes with the competition?
While Eurovision Asia aims to present a shared celebration of cultures, viewers in Malaysia were seemingly not given the opportunity to see the complete picture. As of now, no official explanation has been provided for the decision to cover the presenters, and no statement has been issued by the European Broadcasting Union regarding the incident. Therefore, it cannot be confirmed that the decision was motivated by anti-LGBT censorship. Nevertheless, considering Malaysia’s existing restrictions on LGBT representation, the incident raises important questions about the limits of inclusion in the newly established competition.
Malaysia isn’t being the first to do it
China’s censorship of Eurovision content dates back to 2018, when broadcaster Mango TV edited out rainbow flags and other LGBT-related imagery during its broadcast of the competition. The broadcaster also removed footage featuring performers and audience members displaying rainbow symbols, which are widely associated with the LGBT community. Following the incident, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) terminated its broadcasting partnership with Mango TV, stating that the censorship was not in line with the values of the Eurovision Song Contest. The decision highlighted the EBU’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, while also showing the challenges Eurovision faces when its broadcasts reach countries with different attitudes towards LGBT representation.
Malaysia in Eurovision Asia 2026
Malaysia was represented at Eurovision Asia 2026 by Aina Abdul, who was internally selected by broadcaster TV3 to perform her ballad “Bluest Sky”, combining English and Malay lyrics. Despite being one of the favourites to win, she finished in fourth place out of 11 countries, receiving 152 points in total: 82 from the juries and 70 from the public vote.
All You Need to Know About Eurovision Asia
The Eurovision brand continues its global expansion with Eurovision Song Contest Asia, launched in collaboration with the European
Broadcasting Union (EBU) to mark the 70th anniversary of the original contest. Following the American Song Contest in 2022, which was not renewed for a second season, this new chapter aims to bring the beloved Eurovision format to a new continent and reach a massive potential audience of over 600 million viewers. Unlike the American adaptation that focused on a single nation, this is a large-scale, multi-national competition. The inaugural Grand Final will take place on November 14, 2026, at the One Bangkok Forum arena in Thailand, preceded by a Preview Show on November 13. Hosted by media figures Woody Milintachinda and Cindy Bishop, this historic edition will feature 11 countries: Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Philippines, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Nepal, Laos, Bhutan, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
Unlike the European format, the contest in Asia operates under a centralized production model. It is produced by the international production company Voxovation in partnership with the leading Asian production company S2O. This structure subsidizes the selection process in various countries, allowing nations with limited budgets to participate. Additionally, the winning country will not automatically host the contest the following year but will instead be invited to perform as a guest artist at the traditional Eurovision. The voting system has also been adapted for the continent, based entirely on a unified, free digital platform that combines televoting with professional juries, giving unprecedented decisive power to the international audience through the “Rest of the World” voting. Furthermore, ZOOP will serve as the exclusive social partner of the event, enabling fans to take an active role in the digital experience.
Eurovision Asia 2026: The first Eurovision Asia contest was held in Bangkok, Thailand on November 14. The host arena of the contest was the “One Bangkok Forum”, which has a capacity of about 6,000 seats. This is an official expansion project of the Eurovision brand outside the borders of Europe, launched ahead of the original contest’s 70th-anniversary celebrations.
