Malta
The country’s representative, 24-year-old Miriana Conte, wrote on Instagram: “We’ve just been notified that @ebu_hq [the European Broadcasting Union] has decided against using the Maltese word Kant in our entry in the Eurovision Song Contest.
“While I’m shocked and disappointed, especially since we have less than a week to submit the song, I promise you this: the show will go on – Diva NOT down,” she said.
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Kant means singing in Maltese but its pronunciation is similar to the C-word in English.
Ms Conte also says “serving kant” several times in the chorus – a play on the phrase used in queer and drag culture meaning to be bold and extravagant in a positive way.
The Times of Malta reported that the BBC had complained to the EBU about the song’s appropriateness, but the corporation told Sky News it had no comment on the matter.
Ms Conte told a Maltese television channel last month that the EBU accepted the song with its original title and lyrics.
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Malta has never won the Eurovision but has finished as the runner-up twice – in 2002 and 2005.
This year’s song contest is being held in Basel, Switzerland between 13 and 17 May.
The EBU did not respond to Sky’s request for comment.
