Israel’s Eurovision entry receives furious backlash after winning contest

People weren't happy with an aspect of the Israeli entry's performance

Barzilai's winning Eurovision Song Contest entry 'Toy' has been criticised by users on social media, with people claiming that the performance appropriated Asian culture. Israel's singer Netta Barzilai won the competition with a total of 529 points. The singer wore a traditional kimono dress with her hair up in two buns, as well as performing in front of two walls of Japanese maneki-neko cat figurines. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=84LBjXaeKk4 Cultural appropriation is defined as a concept dealing with the 'adoption of the elements of a minority culture' by members of 'the dominant culture'. One user tweeted:"Let that sink in a Country that is bullying another country for half a century won the Eurovision with an anti-bullying song while acting as a chicken and appropriating Japanese culture."

Another wrote: "Ok so...I really did love #Israel #Eurovision song, I really did BUT...that cultural appropriation of Japanese culture was super unnecessary!! Why though? I wish they didn't do that. *sigh*."

A third Twitter user wrote: "so someone who literally used Japanese culture as a prop won the # Eurovision? good job."

https://twitter.com/_Shanus_/status/995435965597528064 https://twitter.com/nintendomad888/status/995436276043210752 https://twitter.com/misszing/status/995435666602385408 https://twitter.com/euastreos/status/995459855828762625 https://twitter.com/songminotrash/status/995437347511644162 https://twitter.com/Alia_Rose_1996/status/995407244140400640?tfw_site=DigitalSpy&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.digitalspy.com%2Ftv%2Fnews%2Fa856979%2Feurovision-2018-israel-winner-netta-accused-cultural-appropration-japan%2F https://twitter.com/heavenknowsffs/status/995436345240834051?tfw_site=DigitalSpy&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.digitalspy.com%2Ftv%2Fnews%2Fa856979%2Feurovision-2018-israel-winner-netta-accused-cultural-appropration-japan%2F There was controversy elsewhere at the contest when a protestor ran on stage during the UK's song performed by SuRie.