At the Emma gala, a position was taken on, among other things, the climate crisis and the boycott of Eurovision.
The actions of the organizers of the Emma gala have disappointed some dinner guests. The organizers of the event are said to have taken away the protest signs from the celebrity guests, even though they had already had time to present them on the red carpet.
For example, a writer and an artist German Companion Natalia Kallio says in his Instagram post that the sign was taken away from him during the evening. Kallio’s small sign read freely in Finnish: “Israel out or Boycott the Eurovision Song Contest”.
The sign refers to a recent debate in which various parties and countries have demanded the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to exclude Israel from Eurovision because of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Alma and Natalia Kallio arrived together at the Emma gala. Kallio had a sign with him taking a stand. Atte Kajova
In addition, the Vimma band took a strong stand during the evening with their signs that read “No music on a dead planet”, or in Finnish “No music on a dead planet”. At the time, the group told Iltalehti that they wanted to draw attention to the climate crisis with their signs and emphasize the influence of music on its solution.
The band has published a video on their Tiktok account with a clip of the moment when their signs are taken away at the event. In the video, one of the band members, A new day actor-singer known from the series Eeva Rajakangasdownload his direct opinion on the matter.
– You could go and take it anyway From the wrapper sleeves off. If that’s it [kyltissä] if it were said that “let’s topple the government”, then it could be different, he says.
Vimma commented
Iltalehti reached both Rajakanka and another member of the band Pessi Jousteen. According to the duo, they were not informed in advance that they would not be allowed to take a stand on social issues at the gala. The matter only became clear when the order supervisor had come to take the signs away.
– The only thing that helped was to accept one’s fate. Yes, I was surprised by that situation. Our music is completely political, so of course our clothes are also opinionated, states Jouste.
– It was quite surprising when I know that the Emma gala itself is aiming for carbon neutrality. I thought they were on the side of environmental work. The organizer may not have thought it all the way through, he adds.
The Vimma group arrived on the red carpet with impressive outfits. Atte Kajova
Rajakangas clarifies that his Käärijä comment was specifically a comparison to this essential part of the band.
– It was an outfit in which we appear with signs for days, so it felt quite special that it was banned. Erika Vikman is allowed to appear in revealing outfits at galas, which may provoke discussion, but is nevertheless part of his artistry. That’s why I felt that it was quite alarming that they wanted to take the signs away from us, says Rajakangas.
– In our music and in our band, politics is central, in the same way as the color green in Käärijä. It also includes how we look, Pessi elaborates.
The two have slightly different views on whether they should be allowed to express their opinions at events in the future.
– You could think about what kind of things you should take a stand on, and what kind of things you shouldn’t. However, the environmental crisis is so big that it should be one of them, Jouste thinks.
– Yes, they are all political events in that way. The politics of different artists lie in different places. After all, it is also political, for example, that Käärijä sings about docking. Or when someone sings that there must be money and women. It is perhaps strangely understood that what is a demonstration, Rajakangas states.
The members of the group say that they were confused by the actions of the event organizers. Atte Kajova
The group is supposed to send the event organizer feedback on the activity. However, Rajakangas already sends a message to the organizers of the event.
– Their actions make me worry about freedom of speech. I would like to ask them what kind of processes were used to reach this decision? Was there, for example, a person in the background who doesn’t want to bring up such things?
The organizer will answer
Iltalehti reached out to the responsible producer of the event, Musiikkituottatajat – IFPI Finland ry Tommi Kyrän. He says that dinner guests have been subject to the same policy as hall guests.
– We have had a policy at the Emma gala that no signs can be taken into the hall. They have been brought to the red carpet, says Kyyrä.
Kyyrä explains in more detail why the organizers ended up limiting the display of signs at the event.
– We just wanted Emma to focus on domestic artists and music. If you want to express your opinion on any subject, you have to do it somewhere else, he states.
Kyyrä says afterwards that the dinner guests have not been instructed on the matter separately.
Iltalehti unsuccessfully tried to reach Natalia Kalliot to comment on the matter.
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