2023-05-14 10:31:36
As the public votes for each country were announced on Saturday evening, France’s representative made a gesture that many interpreted as a “middle finger”. The singer denied.
A disappointing 16th place. When discovering his total points at Eurovision, during the final of the competition on Saturday May 13 in Liverpool (United Kingdom), La Zarra made a gesture, facing the camera, that challenged viewers. Some saw it as a middle finger, others a “toz”, a slang expression. Faced with the emerging controversy, the Quebec singer, who represented France in the song contest, quickly explained herself, denying the first version of the facts. Back to a controversial sequence that was widely shared and commented on.
“I’m dreaming or La Zarra gave the middle finger…” Many astonished, even shocked viewers commented on social networks about the images they had just seen on television.
Other Eurovision viewers understood this gesture by La Zarra as a “toz”. As the specialist magazine explains Neon, this word comes from Arabic and designates a fart. By extension and slang distortion, it expresses a refusal and has become popular in this form.
“A gesture of disappointment that we use between friends”
La Zarra confirmed this interpretation. Questioned by the press after the competition, she provided this explanation: “Although I represent France, I also have a double culture. It’s not a negative gesture, it’s a gesture of disappointment that we use between friends”she declared, specifying that it was not a question “absolutely not” with a finger of honor.
Later, in a message of thanks to the public, published on InstagramLa Zarra once again spoke about his reaction. “I wanted to tell you that the gesture I made (…) is absolutely not contempt or an insult. And in no way a middle finger”she wrote. “It’s a gesture from me of disappointment which means ‘whatever’ which could be translated as ‘so be it’. Neither more nor less.” She claims not to have had “no intention to shock or provoke” et s’excuse “if it has been misinterpreted”.
In front of the journalists, she wanted to end on a positive note: “For me, we leave winners”she assured, after saying that she was “very happy to have participated in Eurovision”. Not enough to erase the disappointment, however. France has not won since 1977 with Marie Myriam.
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