Father Ted Creator Condemns RTÉ's Eurovision Boycott as Antisemitic

Irish comedy writer Graham Linehan has strongly criticized Ireland’s public broadcaster, RTÉ, for boycotting the Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel’s participation. Linehan accused the network of "disgraceful antisemitism" for replacing the contest finale with an episode of Father Ted, a sitcom he co-created. He stated that he did not permit his work to be used as a "prop" or "fig leaf" for what he describes as institutional antisemitism and political gestures normalizing Jew-hatred. Linehan launched an online petition calling for the resignation of RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst, which gathered over 4,000 signatures. RTÉ previously justified its boycott by citing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli contestant Noam Bettan faced protests during his performance in Vienna but qualified for the finale. Linehan argued that RTÉ’s decision misrepresents Irish values and poisons public life. The controversy highlights the intersection of cultural programming and geopolitical tensions, with Linehan demanding accountability from the broadcaster for using his intellectual property in support of a stance he fundamentally opposes.