Electric Fields highlighted Aboriginal Australian culture during their performance at Eurovision 2024. Now Fred Leone, the Yidaki player who joined Zaachariha and Michael on stage, has revealed he was also paying homage to the people of Palestine during his appearance at semi-final 1.
The instrumentalist has stated in a social media post that his body paint was chosen to represent a watermelon — a symbol that has become associated with supporting Palestine owing to the matching colours of the Palestinian flag.
“That’s a watermelon on my chest. From the river to the sea! 200 million people watched and celebrated while innocent children, mothers and fathers die by the thousands in a GENOCIDE. I’m down with Jewish people. Israel is not Judaism. Israel does not represent Jewish people. I am not down with f*cking GENOCIDE. My Great Grandfather survived three massacres. Our families across so called Australia are the survivors of an ongoing genocide. This was a personal decision. What comes of this no matter how detrimental to my career as an artist is solely dependent on those that hold the power. All my love to the children of Palestine. You can disagree but then history will condemn you as a c*nt.”
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Brendan Maclean, one of Electric Field’s backing singers at Eurovision, stated further details on X about Fred’s extra paintwork in a now deleted post:
“Fred […] managed to use his last bit of paint to make one last addition in the centre of his chest.”
“His name is Fred Leone, a proud Butchulla Songman, Aboriginal musician with Tongan and South-Sea Islander roots. And while I’m amazed it made it to live television [any reference to Palestine or the keffiyeh was explicitly banned] I’m not at all surprised he was the one to do it.”
https://twitter.com/macleanbrendan/status/1788152685201408056
And not one word on “I am done with Jewish people”.
I’m down with Jewish people*
where is the watermelon? I honestly don’t see it.
It’s the white pair of lips in the middle of his stomach
Stop with this stupidity.
Now anyone can say that they had something special on their bodies that represented support for palestinians.
Could not agree more. It’s easy to be courageous after the event but having an unidentifiable white circle painted on your chest is not exactly a protest.
We love you Fred. Well done for doing your part to raise awareness.
#Respect. Thanks, Australia!
That’s amazing. Made me love the Australian entry even more. Hopefully they come back stronger next year.
I wonder how the history remembers people who justify killing Jews. Could have sworn there’s a word for that. Something with a Z
That’s just pathetic
Didgeri do!
Like… should I be judging Fred now for using the phrase we discussed?
For example. Just trying to explain my reasoning for asking the question.
P.S. Obviously Fred, like Ireland, knows all about the impacts of occupation.
Well, they at least know their own specific experiences, rather than necessarily knowing “all about” occupation in all its forms.
Australia is an interesting counterpoint to Israel-Palestine, because any notion of “de-occupying” the continent, “returning” it to aboriginal peoples, or removing the “settler population” is simply not part of the discourse on identity and rights in Australia, and isn’t really being called for by anyone. They’re trying to move forward progressively as one milkali.
History must have featured in the recent referendum debate, though? That result shows how much progress has been made… or not.
History is really an awful lot for anyone to get a firm grasp of. I am no expert in any of the subjects I often chime in on*, all we can do is make an effort to learn!
*Except Sandie Shaw
The referendum was an attempt to rebalance the historical marginalisation of Australia’s aboriginal populations, so definitely history was involved.
My point was that they’re focussed on reconciliation. It’s the same approach that Mandela took in South Africa.
“From the river to the sea” is distinctly not reconciliation. Its ultimate implication is the removal of a whole population and their claim to have a home. No one’s talking about that in Australia. Very few people talk about that in South Africa.
Right, well then use of that phrase can not be justified no matter what the intent is.
Case closed?
Perhaps. I certainly wouldn’t use the phrase myself.
Even if it’s not justified, some people may use the phrase in solidarity and not really think through its implications, or may have a benign (or naive) hope for what would happen to the Jewish population in Israel-Palestine if Israel was disbanded.
Have you been to the Eurovision village, Jonas?
No, I am far far away this year. It would have been doable, but I opted against. I’ve already checked it off my bucket list, so didn’t really feel the need. Everything looks and feels so different to 2013, though, so I’m having twinges of regret.
Far far away in Sweden…or out of the country?
I can’t tell if you just mean you’re a long drive away, or you’re in New Zealand or southern Chile or something 🙂
Yeah, it looks wonderful. Shame you can’t go, although like you say, at least you already experienced last time in Malmö
No, no… nowhere near THAT far away. Life has changed since 2013 is all. I still could have gone without worrying about accommodation costs, but other logistics just got in the way.
Plus I always prefer watching on TV anyway. If I was actually there in person, I’d almost feel I was missing it. I am a creature of habit, and attending has just not been the tradition! FOMO wasn’t enough to convince me to enter the ticket race.
P.S. Nice to change the subject. 🙂 I felt we had fallen out for a moment. 🙁
Fallen out? Not at all! 🙂
I can’t even see where that might have come across. I talking things through with you, but perhaps I’m too used to writing/talking about these kinds of topics straightforwardly or severely.
*enjoy talking
Never mind, I am obviously just even more insecure than I realised…!
A big night ahead of us tomorrow, so time for some zzzzs. Until the next time, my friend!
🙂
Well, at least you’re not as far away as southern Chile 🙂
People use the phrase differently, and while some are probably using it as a type of dog whistle, I think it’s fair to say many use it simply to show solidarity with the Palestinian cause. I don’t know how Fred is using the phrase though.
There’s a man who doesn’t think much about how he puts it – probably the world would be a better place with more people like that.
Takcko Je. By the way – It’s dissapointing to see that Vucic is strengthening Serbia’s ties with Israel during this time.
Now he tells us about it, what can we do with this message at this stage? there was so much going on stage, how could we even think of the symbol on his chest? the dress, the dancers, the stage where they looked lost. There’s a good chance Australia came last.
It’s not particularly courageous to only mention it after the event. Particularly when the symbol looks nothing like a watermelon. Use of the c word isn’t classy.
Peace and support to all. Love from Ireland. We understand the pain and struggle. Peace for all.
As long as it’s not Jewish pain. Don’t forget to mention that.
Epic Didgeridoo Guy
Epic Sax Guy who?
Amazing! <3
Legend! So much respect for the guy.
I mean it barely looks like anything, certainly not recognisably a watermelon. I never ever would have picked that up!
It’s a smiley face at best.
This is beautifully written, thanks for commenting Fred!
Leave my favorite fruit out of nasty politics and hate.
History will remember you.
History will mock a bunch of clowns who made a fruit that has nothing to do with the thing to become the symbol of the thing. Not to mention that a dozen of other countries have the exact same colors in their flags. It’s just clownery.
Leave your irrelevant food taste out of one of the biggest injustices a people have suffered for over a century now.