Earlier this week he made it clear that he wants to perform naked on the Eurovision stage accompanied by live wolves.
And today rehearsal footage published on LifeNews.ru suggested that IVAN — Belarus’ Eurovision 2016 singer — is deadly serious about showing some skin and sharing the stage with the furry beasts.
The video shows a totally naked IVAN kneeling on the ground — with his manhood digitally blurred — as he howls into the eyes of a wolf, accompanied by his Eurovision track “Help You Fly”.
IVAN’s nude encounter is interspersed with footage of him clothed and working with the animals, who, on at least two occasions, seem to nip at his hands and arms.
We’re hoping that they don’t mistake his chorizo for dinner and, just in case they do, we’re also hoping he has good medical coverage.
Belarus: Ivan naked with wolves
There are several reasons to think this is an elaborate publicity stunt.
First, Eurovision is marketed as a family show and the rules expressly forbid full-on nudity. IVAN will not be allowed to rock out with his cock out. As an alternative, he should consider slipping into a nude cat-suit like Britney did in her “Toxic” video.
Second, the rules also expressly forbid the use of live animals.
While Ivan can unleash his inner wolf and howl his three minutes away, he’ll have to use digital wolves or call on dancers to interpret wolves in his stage performance. FACT.
This reality isn’t stopping his producer Viktor Drobysh from sounding off and pretending that this will actually happen in Stockholm.
“On the stage there will be at least one wolf…maybe three, but it is dangerous,” he told LifeNews. “We still have to get approval from the Swedes. But there is an accurate understanding in the room: there are bound to be wolves, and he is sure to be naked.”
It’s much more likely that the above footage is simply for his music video.
But IVAN’s hype machine appears to be having some sort of effect.
Since we first reported on his intentions on March 21, Britain’s Daily Star, Mirror, Independent and Metro have all jumped on the news, and the bookies have moved IVAN from 40th favourite to win to 35th.
Our readers are unmoved. After we posted a grab of the video on our Instagram account, they responded with a mix of horror and disgust. @eurovision_spain writes: “Omfg omfg omfg…I was having dinner but I am not hungry anymore.”
Why would he even think of doing that?
it’s for music video, not for live stage.
I wonder what kind of audience would like to see this weakling naked, and with stray dogs? that’s ugly and disgusting zoophile party. shame on you, Belarus!
Ivan I do think your song is worth to hear, but this is just too much, don’t push it, the rules are clear and you don’t seem to care, why rehearsing with wolves when you could do that with dancers. It’ll be fricking awesome to have cute girls dressed up (not naked) as girls and so do you, not even having a super hot body is enough excuse to show the genitalia on stage so quit that Idea, plus WHO THE HECK WATCHES THE CONTEST TO CATCH A TESTICLE? Pls send a killer song with killer dancers and maybe a… Read more »
What a horrible shame from Belarus.
I really like this song and the revamp has certainly made it a stronger entry. I’ve always though it has an easy hook and now he’s thinking about good staging. We won’t see live wolves but they could leave him with not much to wear and some wolf dancers and it would work well. When Belarus get the staging right they do tend to do well #butterflies
“Rock out with his cock out” hahaha great job dudes hahaha
ewwww no i dont want to see his dong no thanks
I think Ivan is wolfsexual
Its just another Cyprus 2013 entry, my ears were off, but my eyes were on… LOL
OMG THOSE WOLVES ARE SO CUTE <3
But still, animals on stage are against the rules so it will be no surprise if this idea gets rejected.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan will regret not using real wolves on their staging for “Hour of the Wolf” xD
Let him do it!
I would say that this is actually the recording of his videoclip. Although nobody seems to like it,’Help to Fly’ is near my Top 5, at 6th place. I hope they don’t get crazy with the staging…
Most likely they are talking about the video shooting for the clip.
His song isn’t even about wolves! Wtf…
I’m totally against both ideas. But the one which I’m totally pissed out for is the wolves on stage thing. If Ivan’s intention on his act is to connect men with nature, he hasn’t been informed at all. Wolves are taken out from their actual habitat disnaturalized, taken out from their mother when they’re babies and this, of course, means the “auto-unknown” happiness. And the idea of get the stage naked will make me scream. Both horrible. Both just to make the act a morbous one and to dissimulate the shit of a song Belarus’ one is.
OHHH MY GODD That girl with diamonds on her made me cum so quick. I didnt expect that. Her feet are adorable i wanna be slave for her feet :ppppp
naked? OMG kids will be watching Eurovision
I like the idea to bring wolves on stage…But the nude idea is stupid…
I second ESCaddict, I highly doubt this will actually happen in Stockholm… but it would be just too damn funny if it happened 😛
Performance aside, I think I’m the only person I know who unironically have this song in his top 10.
It would be an interesting performance but it breaks too many rules. I can’t see it happening.
DISQUALIFY PLS
I Think He Should Is What I Mean In The First Sentence Of My Sentence
I Think He Dressed With Like Wolf Fur And Blended With The Wolves And The Wolves Were Still There But I’ve Must I Quite Like This Song It Makes Me Birng My Inner Wolf And Howl
Same reaction i had before – if nakedness and wolves are part of the meaning of the song, then fair play. But, no amount of staging can change the fact that the musical style of the song is 30 years out of date. What this entry needs is a new musical re-arrangement, first and foremost, otherwise it may not qualify.
Ummm okay….I actually expect Sergey to now just perform in a speedo at best, or just go the full monty
Naked so what?As long as he looks good i dont care…I hope EBU would be naked in someday day ,if you know what i mean. :))))))
Just when I thought this year’s contest couldn’t go any lower. Now on top of musical mediocrity, there’s animal cruelty. Less and less sure I’ll be watching TV on May 14th.
Give the dog a bone?
I actually really like this one, love that 90’s vibe.
He’ll probably get away with the nudity by wearing skin tone shorts, Maddie Ziegler style. As for the use of live animals I expect the EBU to stick to their own rules. Allowing it once could lead to a slippery slope, resulting eventually in incidents of animal abuse. The ESC doesn’t need this bad PR and more importantly – it’s just wrong.
When the talent runs …………………..out get them out!!
@Brian: No surprise. I always knew Ukraine would make a big push on the board. Now, I’m waiting for Freddie to release his video (if it hasn’t hit YouTube already) to push Hungary up the board.
@cheesecake: That makes sense. Nina’s video for “Warrior” had 2 wolves and a hawk.
Plenty of straight and gay people who will love him naked …Good for him ,if he can ,he can show his Belaruse penis to the whole Europe….No one willl complain :))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
And if Jon Ola tells him, TO HIS FACE, “No, you cannot bring your dogs to the stage”, will he throw a hissy fit and threaten to withdraw? And if that happens, will the BTRC send NAPOLI with “My Universe”? Or will they withdraw from this year’s competition completely?
I bet they’re just filming the music video and thought they’d mess a bit with us by saying they’d do this in Stockholm – I mean, there’s no way this would ever be allowed. And I think they know that.
I think he has a better chance of actually teaching the wolves to fly than being allowed to do this in Stockholm.
YAASSSS! Get it Ivan. I can’t believe this is happening. Barbara Dex anyone? …How is THAT for an insult. Worst dressed goes to a naked man… It makes me giggle.
Side note: I love that you used the phrase “rock out with his cock out”. <3
What if that wolf bites his naked dingaling off?
At least could have wear some tarzan style outfit and hide that thing from innocent childrens eyes.
I am so confused. What do wolves have to do with the song? Is there a deeper meaning I’m missing? Will Belarus be using shock tactics to win? Because that might actually work…
omg, Ukraine raises up in all betting services o_O
http://www.oddschecker.com/tv/eurovision/winner
….don’t think it would be very safe with living wolves on stage with thousands of people being in the arena.
Is he stupid?
In arena will be thousands of people, you can not know how wolves will react. What if they will bait him, or worse if they will jump on public and attack them?
Moreover rules are rules and no animals allowed
OFC I would love him to have the canines as long as it is in a humane way.
They sure don’t look friendly in that video, Ivan is courageous I’ll give him that 😛
I would actually love to see the canines on stage. But Ivan please don’t get naked. Being in boxers would actually have the same effect so why go naked?
Sounds like they’re doing this publicity stunt on purpose because they know its the only way Ivan and his dreadful song will be noticed by the voters
Dances With Wolves, he ain’t! >:-(
The publicity revolving around his circus act is going to backfire big-time, and I can only see this as leading to an all-but-certain non-qualifier.
Will Jon Ola Sand even THINK of entertaining the idea of approving this?
Terrible song. Awful voice. Dreadful performer. So if he wants to qualify, he’ll have to go naked. Don’t bet on me watching him though if this happens.
Not to generalise, but is this the same country where a petition was made to remove Conchita from the broadcast for having an immoral lifestyle???
William shows his disinterest in the song by getting the title wrong…it’s “Help You Fly” not “How to Fly”!!