Eurovision could be set for first ever non-binary winner as Switzerland’s Nemo becomes the favourite

The Eurovision Song Contest could become the first ever non-binary winner as artist Nemo from Switzerland has become the new favorite to win the competition.

The 24-year-old rapper represents their country with the song The Code and is the 5-2 favorite to win after a successful performance on Swiss TV.

Nemo said the song is about realizing their own non-binary identity and that they hope they can stand up for “the entire LGBTQIA+ community” by entering the contest.

The artist, whose full name is Nemo Mettler, added that in accepting that they “didn’t feel like a man or a woman… I had to break some codes.”

Non-binary is an umbrella term used by people who feel like they have a gender identity that is not entirely male or female.

According to The Mirror, a Eurovision expert said: ‘The thinking is that if Nemo hits all those high notes and showcases all those different styles, it will score very highly with the juries – but it’s hard to know what the voters at home will make of it find. because there is no real precedent. It’s a very unique song that’s way off the beaten path.”

Croatia, Ukraine, Italy Ukraine and the Netherlands complete the top five countries in the odds.

It comes after British hopeful Olly Alexander released a statement in response to angry calls from fans for him to boycott the match due to Israel’s inclusion.

The It’s A Sin star will represent his home country with his song Dizzy, but has come under fire from many stars and fans for staying in the competition.

A group of 450 queer artists, individuals and organisations, including actor Maxine Peake, signed an open letter asking Olly to withdraw from Israel’s war with Gaza.

Now the singer has responded in a lengthy statement, promising that he will remain in the competition, and that he will instead focus on collaborating with other Eurovision participants on how we can “use our platform to come together and to call for peace’.

The statement, posted on Olly’s Instagram, read: ‘I wholeheartedly support the action being taken to ensure an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the return of all hostages and the safety and security of all civilians in Palestine and demand Israel.

“I know that some people will choose to boycott this year’s Eurovision Song Contest and I understand and respect their decision.

‘As a participant, I have taken a lot of time to think about what I am going to do and what options I have. It is my current belief that removing myself from the competition would not bring us any closer to our shared goal.”

“I hope and pray that our calls are answered and that the atrocities we see taking place in Gaza come to an end.

“I would like to thank the many signatories of this letter, whose work I deeply admire and respect, and I hope we can continue to work together to create a better world for us all.”

Olly captioned his post: ‘Queers for Palestine sent me their letter earlier this week asking me to withdraw from the ESC and I responded to them directly.

“I’m sharing my response here along with this morning’s collective artist statement.”

Queers for Palestine said the letter was signed by actors Indya Moore, Brigette Lundy-Paine and Maxine Peake and musician Goat Girl, H Sinno.

It read: “We share the vision of strange joy and abundance you have offered through your music, and share your belief in collective liberation for all. In this spirit, we ask you to heed the Palestinian call to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest.”

Olly shared his statement after being part of a collective message signed by several Eurovision artists, promising they would still take part in the competition.

It said: ‘We would like to start by recognizing the privilege of taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest.

“In light of the current situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, and especially in Gaza, and in Israel, we do not feel comfortable remaining silent.

“It is important for us to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and convey our sincere wish for peace, an immediate lasting ceasefire and the safe return of all hostages. We stand united against all forms of hatred, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.”

‘We strongly believe in the unifying power of music, which enables people to transcend differences and foster meaningful conversations and connections.

“We feel it is our duty to create and preserve this space, with the strong hope that it will inspire greater compassion and empathy.”

Last year the BBC faced calls to ax Olly as their Eurovision entry after it emerged he had signed a letter calling Israel an ‘apartheid regime’.

The statement, which was published on October 20, almost two weeks after Hamas’ attack on October 7, also says that Israel has “terrorized” the Palestinian people and that a “genocide” is now taking place “in real time.”

The BBC has no plans to take action as the singer signed the letter weeks before he was unveiled as Britain’s Eurovision act, the Telegraph reported.

Alexander will represent the UK in Sweden in 2024 and has pledged to ‘raise the flag for Great Britain in the most cheerful way possible’.

He will take the stage in Malmö with his song Dizzy, during the final on May 11.

Israel has faced multiple threats of disqualification from this year’s Eurovision Song Contest after two proposed songs were reportedly rejected due to their ‘political nature’.

The song is said to refer to the victims of Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7.

Ultimately, Israel submitted a new song, titled Hurricane, but it reportedly retains some of the lyrics from October Rain, and it will be performed by Eden Golan.

Speaking to Times of Israel after the hurricane revelation, Golan said: “I ended up (competing) in a not easy year.

‘But on the other hand, I want to represent the country even more this year, because of its meaning: it has a completely different meaning.

“And we can take everything that we’re feeling, and everything that the country is going through, into those three minutes. To speak to the world through song.”