The gesture quickly took over his performance. While many predicted a place in the leading group, Quebec singer La Zarra, representing France at Eurovision, finished in 16th place in the final held in Liverpool on Saturday night.
" READ ALSO Eurovision: controversial gesture and early departure, the sad end of La Zarra
Even before she knew the final ranking, disappointment seized the singer at the time of the attribution of the points of the public: she received only 50, which pushed her score to 104 in total. A number far from enough to rank it in third place that was long promised by bookmakers. The candidate then expressed her displeasure in front of the cameras by a gesture of the hand that some associated with a middle finger, others with a "toz" - a slang word synonymous with categorical refusal, indifference, even exasperation, which is materialized by a movement of the middle finger.
The representative of the France 🇫🇷 at the #Eurovision who has just made a toz in front of more than 200 million viewers after receiving 50 points 💀 pic.twitter.com/qIbAsD7q4D
— Memo 🇹🇷 (@MemoKtr75) May 13, 2023
This gesture quickly created controversy on social networks, especially since the singer left the area where artists wait before the end of the vote count. According to our information, she returned to her chair shortly after her release.
"A double culture"
Questioned by the press shortly after, La Zarra defended herself for having given the middle finger, as noted by our journalist present on the spot. It is "absolutely not" a middle finger she assured. "I'm on a double culture. It is not a gesture that is negative. It's just a gesture of disappointment that we use between friends, "insisted the candidate.
It was "absolutely not" a middle finger but "a gesture of disappointment," @LaZarra_ said tonight. #lazarra #EUROVISION #EUROVISION2023 #france pic.twitter.com/5ZKAAwkIeI
— Benoît Daragon (@bendarag) May 14, 2023
"There are many gestures that can be used in other countries that mean other things," she said. "And I'm very, very, very, very happy to have participated in Eurovision," concluded the Quebecer.
However, on Twitter, many denounced the "French arrogance" of the French representative, while others were amused by the fact that the French "can not bear to lose".