Bambie Thug - Ireland's Eurovision entry - said they were 'ordered' to remove pro-Palestinian messaging that was part of their costume.
Bambie made it through to the Grand Final for Ireland for the first time since 2018.
The Cork singer was one of 10 acts to get through the First Semi-Final in the Swedish city of Malmö on Tuesday night with 'Doomsday Blue'.
As part of the performance their body was to feature Ogham writing with the word 'Ceasefire' - referring to the ongoing war by Israel against Gaza.
Bambie told reporters after their performance that they were ordered to change this aspect.
"It was very important for me because I'm pro-justice and pro-peace," they said.
"Unfortunately I had to change those messages today to 'Crown the Witch' only in order from the EBU".
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Bambie Thug was asked by Newstalk's Henry McKean who is in Malmö if they had a message to people back home.
“To the witches & the queers, our time is now!” More from Bambie Thug @NewstalkFM @NTBreakfast from 7am. #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/rnf5pDs4EO
— Henry McKean (@HenryMcKean) May 8, 2024
One Eurovision fan told Henry he was happy to see Ireland back in the final.
"I'm not even relieved I'm just shocked really," Conor Devlin said.
"We came here thinking, 'Oh we might qualify' then we saw the rehearsal and then, 'Oh we're going to qualify'.
"Then suddenly in the space of a few hours I was thinking Top 10 [or] Top Five.
"Some people even thinking we're going to win - so it' been a whirlwind of a day".
Bambie Thug performs during the Eurovision First Semi-Final in Malmö, 7-5-24. Image: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBUMr Devlin said Bambie put on a great show.
"I think Bambie and their team have been fantastic," he said.
"The visual spectacle that they have us on stage - if that did not qualify it would have been probably the biggest robbery in Eurovision history.
"Crown the witch!" he added.
Bambie now moves forward to the Grand Final on Saturday May 11th.
A second semi-final on Thursday, featuring Israeli singer Eden Golan, will see another trance of acts selected for Saturday.
Boycott calls
This year's competition has been marred in calls for Israel to be withdrawn due to its ongoing war in Gaza against Palestinians.
Irish artists had also called directly on Bambie Thug to pull out of the contest.
Singer Mary Coughlan previously told Newstalk she didn't think "anybody with a conscience" could perform at this year's event.
"I would myself have the respect of my peers and other artists rather than to go on some television programme that is largely viewed as entertainment," she said.
"It is political now; it was made political when they removed Russia in 2022 [for its invasion of Ukraine]."
Bambie Thug performs during the Eurovision First Semi-Final in Malmö, 7-5-24. Image: Sarah Louise Bennett/EBUMs Coughlan said Ireland has always done the right thing.
"We have always in this country stood with the oppressed," she said.
"We've always done concerts, we've always raised awareness, we've always raised consciousness, we've always done the right thing.
"We're watching it every single day and I don't think anybody with a conscience could get up in front of a broader European stage.
"I don't think it's a good thing, it's not a good look," she added.
Israel has been accused of genocide against the Palestinian people with at least 34,680 Palestinians killed - including over 14,000 children - and over 78,000 wounded, according to the Gazan health authorities.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) which organises Eurovision has been contacted for comment.
