The singer of the Italian glamrock group Maneskin, which won this year’s Eurovision, did not take drugs live. According to the European Broadcasting Union (EVU), which organizes the competition, Damiano David had a negative test.
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“As if snorting cocaine”: controversial shot of a member of the winning group Maneskin storming emotions | Video: Youtube / Eurovision Song Contest
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The frontman of the group denied from the beginning that he would use cocaine during Saturday’s final after leaning his head to the table. “There has been no drug use in the Green Room and we consider the matter closed,” EVU said in a statement.
The Union considers it “alarming that inaccurate speculation, which has led to false reports, has overshadowed the spirit and outcome of the competition and has unfairly affected the group”.
“We would like to congratulate Maneskin once again on his huge success. We look forward to working with our Italian member, public television Rai, to host the spectacular Eurovision Song Contest in Italy next year,” the European Broadcasting Union said in a statement.
Damiano David denied cocaine use from the beginning. He claimed to have checked the glass top of the table because guitarist Thoma Raggi had broken it. “We really are against drugs and we’ve never used cocaine. We’re ready to be tested because we have nothing to hide,” the frontman defended.
According to bookmakers, Maneskin was a favorite of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. However, after the votes were given, she lagged behind performers from Switzerland, France and Malta. The votes of the spectators helped the group to win.
Eurovision returned this year after a one-year hiatus caused by the covid-19 pandemic. The live performance during the final evening was watched by 3,500 fans, who had previously proved themselves by a negative test.
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