Domenica In presenter Mara Venier came under fire from viewers on social media for allegedly silencing contestants Dargen D’Amico and Ghali.
Ghali sparked a furore when he made an appeal to “Stop the Genocide” on the final night of the event on Saturday.
Some described the programme as a “shameful page in public service” broadcasting.
Viewers took issue in particular with Venier’s handling of comments by D’Amico on immigration.
“What immigrants put in to pay our pensions, is more than what we spend on reception,” said the rapper, only to be interrupted by the presenter with the words: “But this is a party, we are talking about music.”
She could then be heard in the background saying, “You are embarrassing me, I am not going to let you anymore because this is not the time.”
Venier also came under fire in relation to the statement by Rai CEO Roberto Sergio in response to claims by Israel’s Ambassador to Italy Alon Bar that the festival had been used to spread hate following Ghali’s appeal, which she read during the show.
The statement itself was accused of making no reference to the Palestinian cause, while Venier was attacked for concluding with the words, “These are the words of our CEO, which of course we all share.”
For his part, Ghali defended his stance.
“I’ve been talking about what’s going on since I wrote my first songs when I was 13-14 years old,” said the Italian artist.
“It’s not just since October 7, this has been going on for a while.
“The fact that [the Israeli ambassador] talks like this is not good.
“This policy of terror continues, people are more and more afraid to say ‘stop the war’ and ‘stop the genocide’.
“People feel they have something to lose if they say ‘long live peace’, this must not [be allowed to] happen,” continued Ghali.
ANSA
