‘She was robbed!’ Fans slam Eurovision as Australia’s Kate Miller-Heidke misses out on win despite stellar performance… while the Netherlands takes first place
Australia’s Kate Miller Heidke secured ninth place at the 64th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, despite a stellar performance – with the Netherlands crowned the winner.
The 37-year-old belted out her song Zero Gravity, which earned her 285 points, however it was the Netherlands’ Duncan Laurence who won the competition with 492 points – marking the nation’s first win in 44 years.
Outraged fans took to Twitter shortly after the announcement, with some claiming Australia was ‘robbed’ following Kate’s gravity-defying performance.
Ninth place: Kate Miller-Heidke missed out on a Eurovision win despite her gravity-defying performance at the grand final in Tel Aviv on Saturday
‘Kate Miller-Heidke was robbed, LNP won, and I didn’t get my sausage. What a weekend,’ one Twitter user wrote.
‘Can’t believe kate miller-heidke came 9th in eurovision. disappointed and outraged,’ another user complained.
Italy followed in second place with 465 points, while Russia came in third with 369 points.
Electrifying performance: The 37-year-old managed to belt out Zero Gravity, a song about her battle with post-natal depression, while simultaneously balancing on a six-metre pole
This year’s competition saw 26 countries battle it out in the grand final, which was held in Tel Aviv, Israel.
The winner is determined by viewers’ votes and a five-member jury.
Brisbane-native Kate, who was considered a favourite to win early in the competition, wowed the crowd while flying in the air, wearing a glittering blue princess-style gown.
Incredible feat: The Netherlands’ Duncan Laurence (pictured) won the competition with 492 points – marking the nation’s first win in 44 years
She managed to belt out Zero Gravity, a song about her battle with post-natal depression, while simultaneously balancing on a six-metre pole.
She was the fifth person to represent Australia at Eurovision.
Pop Queen Madonna, 60, closed the show with a performance of her classic track Like a Prayer and new single Future.
Australia began participating in Eurovision in 2015, after being invited by the European Broadcasting Union to perform as a wildcard entry.
Guy Sebastian performed his song Tonight Again and secured fifth place that year.
In 2016, Dami Im won second place, marking the highest Eurovision score for Australia.
Guest performance: Pop Queen Madonna, 60, closed the show with her classic Like a Prayer and new single Future