She’s the singer at the center of this year’s biggest eurodrama. But with her dream of representing Russia at Eurovision at an end (at least for this year), Julia Samoylova has given her take on Ukraine’s travel ban and Channel One’s withdrawal.
“The support is unreal,” she told Channel One. “It’s not just Russia either — it’s from all over the world. In Japan, they draw me like an anime hero!”
That international support wasn’t enough to get her into Eurovision 2017, however. But, as a performer used to being told “no” throughout her career, Julia isn’t as subdued as you might think.
“It’s upsetting because it’s my dream, but I believe in hope. I believe I will go to Eurovision again. I want my example to inspire people, to inspire them to not surrender in any situation, live a full life and follow their dreams.”
Her message is simple: “Do not give up!”
Until the decision was announced yesterday, Julia was dedicated to the task of representing her country on the Eurovision stage and flying the flag for Moscow.
“I would have flown to Kyiv, even under threat of arrest.”
RUSSIA’S HEAD OF DELEGATION SPEAKS UP FOR JULIA SAMOYLOVA
Russian Head of Delegation Yuri Aksyuta has also spoken out on Russia’s withdrawal.
“We cannot participate on the terms that are offered to us. The EBU gave us two options: Film Julia in Moscow remotely and broadcast through satellite or change the participant. The first option is unacceptable because it is a complete violation of the rules and discrimination against the Russian participant. The second option is even worse than offering for Julia to sing remotely. This has been Julia’s dream her whole life.”
Aksyuta also suggested that Russia’s absence this year will be damaging to the contest.
“In my opinion the absence of a participant from Russia is very damaging to the reputation of the contest itself and in general for Russian viewers it is an additional reason to not have an interest in this contest.”
Whatever their opinions are, the fact is Russia are out of the Eurovision Song Contest and Ukraine will be keen to get attention back onto their preparations for the contest and the music itself.
What do you make of Julia’s comments? Do you think a solution should have been found? Let us know in the comments below!
GET MORE RUSSIA NEWS HERE
esc43 Armenia and Azerbaijan will be voting for different countries. Why should they vote in unison for one or another country))
I’m sure btw that in the time russia is not inside, azerbaijan and armenia will vote for greece, or cyprus
So Julia will sing next year, but will her voice be the same? I don’t know if her condition is changing or is stable.
@Plum
Straight people don’t need prides, they are told they are normal from birth and don’t know half the problems gay people go through only in their childhoods. Not having gay prides is discrimination against gays and is homophobic. Your country’s laws are homophobic and sadly the majority of people there are too.
I don’t hate Russia, I am of Russian descent, have lived there and speak the language but it is a country going backward in time and people there have no quality of life.
The amount of buzz she’s getting pre-ESC is big just like Conchita and Jamala. Maybe this will help Russia win next year if they send a better song 🙂
Julia is determined to be the Russian martyr… And Russia will continue to shower us with the images and sad stories of this disabled girl, whose dream was shattered by Ukraine… Let’s just remember that Julia was chosen to represent Russia precisely to play that role. She seems very eager for it, and this is understandable, since it puts her in the spotlight and let’s her be the Russian poster child in the drama with Ukraine. But regardless of the well scripted drama and Julia’s full- hearted immersion in the role, the coax is too widely publicized and rebuked, for… Read more »
Okay so now that we know she’s not participating this year.
I feel somewhat bad for Yulia, though not for Channel One making every move at the last minute.
When she comes back next year I hope she comes back with a better song that’s not last-minute like this year.
Yes, Julia – be a good girl. By getting arrested in front of worlds media you would serve your country even better. I’m sure your country will not forget the sacrifices you have made.
@Hi
What happenned to your keyboard or to your fingers?
I am calling you a hater because you wrote “I hate Russia”. I am Russian and I live in Russia, so there is no need to use “they” when answering me. I am not homophobic and the majority of people here are not. Having no gay prides as well as having no straight people prides doesn’t mean discriminating gays. I don’t know what country are you from but do you have straight people prides? No? Why? And I cannot even imagine what war you are talking about.
I always believe in being the bigger person and setting an example. The EBU, Russia and Ukraine failed in this. Their is no benifit in having the contest if it is not respected and if it’s not a way to connect. God knows Russia right now needs some positivity injected into it so I say it’s a massive loss to the world not to have Russia participate. Ukraine message of exclusion is loud and clear and the EBU were totally weak in the handling of this situation. It’s kind of taken away the edge of the contest. A very disapointing… Read more »
@Plum
Why are you calling me a hatet. YOU are a gater. I dint hate Yulua, i gate Rusdia. They are homofobiq tgey start war, do yuo think that is OK. I hope you not.
Actually, the title quote from her interview presents classic reckless behaviour. Like nothing happened, for sure! Except of maybe some radicals that could’ve seen that widespreaded comment from her sm page (whether it was erased or not, I can’t check that) and make their minds up against her (imaginary) stay in Kyiv? Lots of absurdic events in Ukraine had happened already with their participation, why exclude this possibility, for example?
@Hi
Hi there, dear Hater!
Julia is OK as well as all Russian ESC fans. She will participate the next year. Russia will be back, don’t doubt. And – notice – I am not even asking you why you hate Russia since all sources of your “knowledge” about our country are as clear as day.
@May
Myth about the laws of Ukraine and as Ukraine is an embodiment of justice. If not Julia, it would be another singer who would not be admitted to Ukraine, because Ukraine needs to show the power, to see Russia’s helplessness, it for the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian part gives happiness.
@STR
Just do not propaganda and lies, that homosexuals are persecuted in Russia.
Julia will participate in 2018. Only necessary that in this year Ukraine does not receive the first place.
I hate Russia, but i feel sorry for Yulia. Its a great song. I hope Ukrain and Russia never gonna be in ESC again
@Geo Absolutely agree.
Besides, going to Eurovision been a dream for most of the contestants, and remains a dream for many other artists. What’s so special about it, that is worth repeating over and over again?
Hell, I also had such dream as a kid
I hope they drag her away
Oh dear Yulia, feel so sorry for her missing out and so cross that Russia and Ukraine have let her and the rest of us Eurovision fans down, in particular Russian fans as they do not have even the choice of seeing the contest. Where did giving your people a choice go Russia? Stupid polotics.
It’s unfortunate for Yulia that this has happened but Russia have done the wrong thing by refusing to change the participant. Why can’t Russia just use a different singer this year and then let Yulia represent them next year in Italy or Bulgaria or wherever (since it probably won’t be Ukraine again!) Russia are doing this just to make Ukraine look like villains, when all Ukraine is doing is following its own laws. It’s Russia, not Ukraine, who is making this a political issue. I feel bad for Yulia and for Russian ESC fans but it’s the Russian delegation who… Read more »
#FlameIsStillBurning
It’s a shame that Ukraine ccouldn’t have the heart and the mind to be superior to Russians and be diplomatic.
When she says “I would have flown to Kyiv, even under threat of arrest.” she doesn’t seem to understand that that’s the whole problem. She doesn’t seem to get that she broke the law by entering Crimea through Russia, and it acting like she never did anything wrong. She doesn’t even acknowledge that, even if she didn’t know at the time, what she did was still considered a crime in Ukraine. She wouldn’t be a freedom fighter by flying to Kyiv when she has already been banned– if she did that she would just be a criminal, and yeah she… Read more »
Already starting to grab for the 2018 sympathy votes. Yuck. Explains why she didn’t quietly take herself out of the running to make room for someone else.
The only thing interesting now is only the contestants left. The prepartion work is meaningless and and nothing to be looking forwarded to. The only things that matters now is when will this year ESC ends and the next year host. This year is beyond repair.
Russians could build the same stage in Moscow, just fuelled by petromoney not a problem. Jesus satiated, donkey saved. I will miss Julia, by no means connected with fact that I’m disabled boy from Poland. Westerner’s Karma dubbed by Francesco? I like him very much but observing my entourage in real life I mean people a la Ann&Rob Lewandowski or Beata Pawlikowska (highly motivated and engaged people around the world like many of you have: sport, fashion, translations, engineering, not famous) I find his song a pop-cliché tut-tut hello-mango-gimme-a-banana 😉 K, u can shoot now 🙂
On the same night as Eurovision, I bet Russia will hold a massive concert in Crimea to broadcast instead.
She must be arrest if she do that. Ukraine be brave .
So much strength and character! (All calling her a “pawn” don’t understand her CHOICE in all of this. You’re implying she doesn’t have a mind to think for her own, and that is super offensive). Come back Yulia, stronger than ever, and win this whole thing! I may not be able to vote from America, but I’ll be rooting for you when you return to ESC <3
It’s pathetic how Russia used this woman just to cause turmoil. Yes, the Ukrainian authorities stressed over and over again that the problem is the artist’s violation of Ukrainian law, not Russia or its delegation itself, but it’s as if they just chose her for all this drama and are using even her disability as a political weapon.
And seriously? Were people honestly expecting Ukraine to violate its own laws?
I hope all Russian homosexuals start fighting for their rights as well! It’s upsetting because it’s their dream, but let’s believe in hope. I want her example to inspire people, to inspire them to not surrender in any situation, live a full life and follow their dreams. Love is not a crime and any country where it is, doesn’t belong in Eurovision. No matter how big it is….
She’s just so sweet omg, I really feel sorry for her because Russia just used her 🙁
And I just had to applaud her when she said that one of her fav ESC songs is 1944 🙂
“I want my example to inspire people, to inspire them to not surrender in any situation, live a full life and follow their dreams”
Her message, or better, russian message, is for all people, including LGBT, persecuted in Russia like Jews were in Nazi Germany? Or to Blacks, caucasians, asians and Jews, victims of hate and prejudice from russians everyday?
after reading all this madness, i guess that at least at the end the conclussion is that we all have what we deserve. Ukraine is hated for ruining a festival of 62 years old, probabbly banned for a period of time as they deserve, and Yulia will sing eventually next year, as she deserves. Lets end this terrible year soon, and look forward for a future where Russia will sing and Ukraine wont.
Wiwi, please! Stop posting topics about her! It’s very annoying! You are not posting any articles about stage or preparation to contest but about this girl there are dozens of posts… Be objective…
Ukraine shouldn’t take advantages of Eurovision in order to achive its political and economic aims. Or to be more precise, it is a colony of the US. So, the country helps the US to damage Russia’s reputation. Cold war II.
“I would have flown to Kyiv, even under threat of arrest” – does she even understand in what kind of situation she found herself with this eurovision. It isn’t even her fault, this situation is bigger than her and i wouldn’t have talked that lightly!
Hope this will be the last episode in the Russian Eurovision Saga….
I really don’t care what they want, what they have to say, their regrets, hopes, dreams… Other countries were absent and came back without a problem in the past few years (Portugal, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and so on…)
– plays the victim –
so pathetic.
What’s the drama? Romania was absent 1 year and came back this year with success, so let’s get over this Russian drama… We’re all fed up! Let’s concentrate on this year’s edition…
how many russians watch the show every year? never in my life i’d imagine an eurovision without the biggest country in the world. russia is the reason why i got hooked with the show in the first place.
anyway i wish yulia well. she needs to focus to write a badass comeback song for eurovision 2018 in rome and slay everyone.
Do people actually all the things Russians are saying? Doesn’t Channel One have shame for using a disable girl for all this? I feel sorry for her, but not for Russia. Shameless.