Eurovision singer wants to perform naked with a live wolf called Shakira
The Eurovision Song Contest is always a high-camp affair packed with unique gimmicks – but one singer has ambitious plans that’ll require a rule change.
Belarusian singer Ivan (Alexander Ivanov) is hoping to take the contest by storm with his dramatic anthem Help You Fly.
But he’s planning to catch the audience’s attention in a dramatic way – by performing completely nude, accompanied by live wolves.
He said: “It’s undoubtedly an experience, a great experience, especially as I have never performed on stage before in my birthday suit and with wild animals.
“We want this to be art, not porn.”
However, the rules of Eurovision might stand in the way of his big plans.
The official 2016 rules, ratified by the European Broadcasting Union, state: “”Each performance may consist of a maximum of six people on stage. No live animals shall be allowed on stage.”
There’s no official rule against nudity, though it does clarify: “The lyrics and/or performance of the songs shall not bring the Shows, the ESC as such or the EBU into disrepute”.
A spokesperson told AFP that nudity is “not appropriate” for family show.
Ivan did film with a live wolf named Shakira for his official video, however.
He said: “The first rehearsals were very scary, but all the same we made friends.
“She liked my smell and started rubbing up against me.”
However, the country’s delegation insists that its plans are not set.
Spokesperson Svetlana Kraskovskaya said: “The final version of the song will be confirmed later.
“What you see is one of the options.”
