The Conversation (0)
Kate Plummer
May 23, 2021
Amanda Holden is facing a backlash after a joke she made while announcing the UK’s Eurovision points left viewers cringing.
During her segment, Holden said: “Good evening, bonsoir, goedenavond.
“That is ‘good evening’ in French and Dutch although I’ve got absolutely no idea which is which.”
While it is clear Holden was poking fun at the stereotype that Brits don’t know any other languages, ting on Twitter, a number of people cringed and found it unhelpful:
Amanda Holden pretending she doesn't know two words of French when 39 countries are giving us precisely 0 points in… https://t.co/jwVnuw6qWM— Lily (@Lily) 1621723467
i can't believe we let Amanda Holden cause a continent-wide diplomatic incident, this is why we get nil points— Jonn Elledge (@Jonn Elledge) 1621721301
Amanda Holden admitting she doesn’t know which language is which is exactly why everyone hates Brits. #Eurovision— 🇯🇲Jessica Noah Morgan™🇯🇲 מלכּה (@🇯🇲Jessica Noah Morgan™🇯🇲 מלכּה) 1621721206
Still pissed off about bloody Amanda Holden— Marina O'Loughlin (@Marina O'Loughlin) 1621722642
On behalf of the whole UK, I apologise to #Eurovision for the embarrassment that is Amanda Holden making it all abo… https://t.co/LheSoAHKec— Kathryn Hunter (Havelock) (@Kathryn Hunter (Havelock)) 1621721899
Oh cheers for that Amanda Holden, really helping us with the pariah status— Jennifer Williams (@Jennifer Williams) 1621721273
U.K. getting No Points was not half as bad as Amanda Holden telling the whole of Europe that she doesn’t know one E… https://t.co/mR09KvvSx4— nazir afzal (@nazir afzal) 1621724652
A brilliant idea, post-Brexit, for Amanda Holden, the British jury representative, to remind everyone how ignorant… https://t.co/kV9O8FG0oe— Samuel West 💙 (@Samuel West 💙) 1621721587
The lowlight of the evening wasn’t the nul points, but Amanda Holden demonstrating perfectly why Europe thinks we’r… https://t.co/Ar7Bz8XUzo— Tristan Gemmill (@Tristan Gemmill) 1621725944
Can't believe Amanda Holden had a Eurovision intro being proud about not being able to speak any languages. Really… https://t.co/MTslGaQXMp— Gerald Clarke (@Gerald Clarke) 1621721432
#NilPoints for UK and Amanda Holden thinking it funny to say she doesn’t know difference between French and Dutch #Embarrassing— Fiona Hyslop (@Fiona Hyslop) 1621721806
Oof.
Holden’s comments came amid an excruciating performance for the UK, who came last in the competition, scoring a grand total of 0 points for James Newman’s performance of Embers.
Meanwhile, despite Holden not knowing French, France came second in the competition with 499 points, narrowly missing out on the top spot which was awarded to Italy (524 points).
Don’t worry Amanda, hun, it's not like at least 48 per cent of the nation are desperately trying to maintain some semblance of a relationship with the rest of Europe.
It’s not as if Europeans think Britain has descended into a echo chamber of flag waving and jingoism.
Oh it is? Ah, ok.
Perhaps it would be better if we send someone else to read out the votes next time. Anyone else. We’re free?