Zelensky has requested to address numerous international events over the past year. The Oscars declined on both occasions, reportedly saying it would make the awards inappropriately political. . .
“Too bad,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in response to the EBU decision. “He would have made worthy competition to Eurovision participants this year.” This was likely a reference to Zelensky’s prior career as a comedian, sometimes dressing in drag and on one occasion, pretending to play the piano with his private parts.
Eurovision declines Zelensky speech request
"The organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest have turned down Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s request for a video address before the finals on Saturday. According to a statement quoted by British media, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) does not wish to politicize the event.
The Ukrainian leader had hoped to address an audience estimated at 160 million and appeal for support in the conflict with Russia.
Zelensky’s request, “whilst made with laudable intentions, regrettably cannot be granted as it would be against the rules of the event,” the EBU said in a statement. They added that the contest is “governed by strict rules and principles which have been established since its creation,” one of the most important being the event’s “non-political nature.”
The EBU is an alliance of more than 100 broadcasters which runs the annual music competition. Traditionally, it is hosted by the country that wins the previous year’s contest. Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the 2022 event held in Italy, but Kiev could not take on hosting duties due to the conflict, so the honors went to the UK as the second-place finisher.
The BBC and the EBU chose to “reflect and celebrate Ukraine’s Eurovision song contest win and show we are united by music during these hard times,” by introducing every participating artist with a “video postcard” featuring 37 locations from around the country.
Zelensky has requested to address numerous international events over the past year. The Oscars declined on both occasions, reportedly saying it would make the awards inappropriately political.
The Toronto Film Festival in Canada turned him down in September last year. FIFA declined a request to address the World Cup final in Qatar in December. . ."
A clip of the Ukrainian President playing a piano with his genitals is rightly going viral
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used to have quite the incredible entertainment career, including performing a weird piano routine.
Long before bravely defending his country from Russian invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had quite the incredible entertainment career, which the internet has been really loving.
He voiced Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian dub version of the beloved 2014 film, which prompted approval from that film’s star Hugh Bonneville. He took part in the Ukrainian Dancing with the Stars back in 2006, showcasing some serious sashaying moves.
He starred in the political comedy series Servant of the People which – get this – saw Zelenskyy play an unexpected Ukrainian President who’s elected after a video of him ranting about corruption in the government goes viral. Life is stranger than fiction etc etc.
Zelenskyy’s most ridiculous performance, however, involves his genitals: in 2016, he recreated a sketch from Servant of the People, playing a song on a piano with his penis. Yes, his penis. He even performed the routine in front of a huge live audience, who wildly lapped up the talent of Zelenskyy’s swishing genitals.
And he picked an interesting song for the occasion, playing a version of the classic Jewish celebratory anthem ‘Hava Nagila’ (Zelenskyy’s parents are Jewish and I wonder if they watched it).
Take a look below and try to imagine this happening in any other country.
TALKING POINTS MEMO
The Best 5 Clips From Zelensky’s Past Life As An Entertainer
For Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, life indeed imitates art.
During a virtual address on Tuesday, Zelensky urged the European Parliament “to prove they are with us” by allowing Ukraine to join the European Union, which currently has 27 members, amid Russia’s unprovoked invasion of the country.
“We have proven our strength,” Zelensky said in translated remarks. “So do prove that you are with us. Prove that you will not let us go. Prove that you indeed are Europeans.”
But for Zelensky, it wasn’t his first time making the demand — well, at least in real life.
1The last time Zelensky asked to join the EU
Before entering office in 2019, Zelensky was a successful entertainer in Ukraine, starring in a hit TV show titled “Servant of the People.” Zelensky played a high school history teacher whose viral rant against government corruption in Ukraine unexpectedly led to his character getting elected as president of the country.
In one scene, Zelensky’s character, Vasyl Petrovych Holoborodko, becomes excited when he gets a call from the office of then-German chancellor Angela Merkel, who informs him that the EU has decided to accept Ukraine into the union.
But not so fast — Merkel’s office apparently meant to call the president of Balkan country Montenegro, not Ukraine.
(Bonus clip: In the show, Zelensky’s character also at one point declares that Russian President Vladimir Putin “has been toppled!”)
2Ukraine’s Paddington
In addition to foreshadowing his eventual career in politics, Zelensky’s entertainment career also extended to voice overs.
Most notably, the Ukrainian version of “Paddington Bear,” in which Zelensky voiced the main character in the Ukrainian versions of both 2014’s “Paddington” and 2017’s “Paddington 2.”
3Sean Spicer, Step Aside
And let’s not forget the time when Ukraine’s president worked the ballroom all the way to winning the Ukrainian version of “Dancing With the Stars” in 2006.
4Balls To The Wall
Zelensky also flexed his comedic chops well before entering office.
Among his goofiest moments, Zelensky is seen with four other men standing behind a piano with their pants around their ankles as they pretend to play the Jewish folk song “Hava Nagila” without using their … hands.
5Giving Beyonce A Run For Her Money
It’s the leather pants and heels for me:
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