Last year's UK Eurovision Song Contest entry Mae Muller has opened up about why she has boycotted the 2024 competition, arguing more should be done to "protect the artists" participating in the annual event.
Muller, 26, finished in last year's contest 25th our of 26 countries with her performance of I Wrote A Song.
The singer hasn't given her thoughts on this year's Eurovision, the final of which takes place tomorrow in Malmo, Sweden.
Olly Alexander will be taking to the stage to represent the UK with his song, Dizzy, and has been making headlines as he gears up for the big day.
However, Muller seems to have kept a low profile since last year, only breaking her silence on Friday to address her reasons for staying under the radar.
Ahead of the main event this weekend, she penned on her X account: "I've not been keeping up with EV at all this year for my own mental health."
Mae addressed her boycott of Eurovision
Instagram @maemuller/Eurovision Song Contest
Responding to a fan, she went on to add in a separate tweet: "The pressure is just too much, it's a shame cos I luv performing and I luv music but the fans were the only thing that made it enjoyable.
"More needs to be done to protect the artist’s mental health because it’s not actually normal what they go through."
Muller faced significant backlash last year after it emerged she'd tweeted in 2020 that she "hates Britain".
In a series of posts from four years ago, Muller also branded the Conservative Party “racist and elitist”.
Responding to criticism for representing the UK despite the tweets, she told The Sunday Times last year: "Me saying, ‘I hate this country’ is not ideal as I am representing this country. But I love where I’m from. It’s a privilege to be born here and that’s why I felt strongly.
"We deserve the best and at that time this amazing country wasn’t getting the best. We were being let down."
Muller performed in last year's Eurovision
BBC
This year, Alexander, 33, has already had to respond to backlash he faced during rehearsals for a slip-up involving his microphone which affected his performance.
Alexander opened up on Wednesday about his "shaky vocals" after suffering a backlash from viewers.
During his performance, the actor's microphone pack slipped from his trousers and was left dangling behind him.
Alexander continued singing and made attempts to grab the equipment, but his vocals suffered as a result, which some fans were quick to point out, with one accusing him of having "shaky vocals" on X.
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Alexander is representing the UK in this year's show
Eurovision Song Contest
Speaking on Wednesday morning, Alexander explained: "I had a slight wardrobe malfunction and my mic pack fell off and I had to improvise, it's live TV and it happens!"
Speaking to Lorraine Kelly on ITV, he continued: "The dancing is a bit naughty and the team is fantastic. It's like the Olympics of music, it's a fun, chaotic circus.
"This whole thing has been wild, it was amazing last night. It was the first time performing it on live TV.
"There is so much support from the other contestants, it's been the experience of a lifetime. I feel so lucky and privileged to be doing it."
