Yahoo News Rita Ora criticised by Eurovision fans for performing at semi-finals
The popstar had previously turned down the chance to represent the UK in 2009
Rita Ora's announcement that she will be performing at the Eurovision semi-finals in Liverpool has not been met well by fans of the singing competition.
The popstar was confirmed to be joining a lineup that includes Rebecca Ferguson, Alyosha, Mariya Yaremchuk, OTOY and Zlata Dziunka where she will perform her new single Praising You.
Ora's appearance at the event was not well received by Eurovision fans as Ora previously turned down the chance the represent the UK at the ceremony.
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She auditioned in 2009 as part of Eurovision: Your Country Needs You! when she was 18 but left before the conclusion of the competiton.
Ora later said Eurovision would have been bad for her career: "Imagine if I'd stayed! It would probably have been all over for me. At best, I'd be a contestant on that diving show…? Splash! Yeah, Splash! I love that show."
Fans were quick to point out that Ora was happy to perform on the show now it was more popular. One said: "The cheek of Rita Ora to say Eurovision would've ruined her career but now she's happy to bask in its limelight for a semi-final performance, come on now."
Another posted: "Rita Ora before Eurovision: it will damage my career. Rita Ora now: Omg mass publicity, massive stage woop."
One fan said: "Rita Ora performing as an interval feels too ironic given she partook in Your Country Needs You auditions in 2009(withdrawing before first live show) and previously bashed ESC saying she dodged a bullet."
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Others pointed out the symmetry of auditioning for the competition and now performing on it all these years later: "This is a full-circle moment for Rita Ora to perform at this year’s #Eurovision. In 2009 she auditioned to represent the UK when the contest was in Russia, but ultimately withdrew after being offered the gig."
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