In recent years, it seems that no edition of the Eurovision Song Contest can end without a little scandal. On social networks, a growing number of voices claim that Sweden won Eurovision 2023 unfairly, because the contest was “Masluit”.

Fans say it was all a hoax, as Lauryn’s victory will allow Sweden to host the European Song Contest next year, which marks the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s Waterloo hit, writes the Daily Mail.

Sweden won Eurovision 2023 with the song “Tattoo” performed by Lauryn, this is the second trophy won by the 39-year-old artist.

She also won in 2012 in Baku with the song “Euphoria”. With two trophies, Lauryn made history as the first woman to win the competition twice.

Only Johnny Logan had previously managed this in the 1980 and 1987 editions.

However, Eurovision fans are unimpressed with the Swedish artist’s performance and claim that strings have been pulled for the second prize so that Sweden will host the contest in 2024, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s victory.

“Too big a match”

“It seems like too much of a coincidence,” says one fan on the Eurovision Facebook page.

“Look, I’m not saying it’s orchestrated, but…Sweden winning a year before the anniversary of ABBA’s win seems too convenient,” wrote another Eurovision fan.

“I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but the idea that this contest was organized so that Sweden could host it on the fiftieth anniversary of Abba’s victory makes a lot of sense now,” another user continued.

“Abolishing the jury trial is unfair. According to the people’s vote, Finland deserved to win,” said another Eurovision fan.

“This is a fraud. Everything was planned in advance. Finland should have won,” wrote a man from Germany.

Fans have alleged that the Swedish song will contain excerpts from other songs

Other Eurovision fans accused the song “Tatoo” of being similar to “Euphoria”, Loin’s first win, or Madonna’s “Frozen”.

Fans are also claiming on social media that the winning song also contains parts of “I’ll stand by You” by The Pretenders.

“Absolutely great production with a 2000s techno sound like Armin van Buren or Darude and hints of Madonna’s ‘Frozen’,” another user wrote.

How the conspiracy theory was born

A conspiracy theory that the contest was rigged to favor the Swedes gained momentum after several fans spotted Lauryn holding the microphone to sing throughout the live broadcast, even after she finished her show on stage in Liverpool.

It was a tense moment before the final result was announced, with the winner decided and Finland leading Sweden, but Laurin didn’t get all the votes from the public. You can watch this moment in the video below.

Therefore, many conspiracy theorists say that the real winner was Finland’s Käärijä, who performed the song “Cha Cha Cha” with 526 points, compared to Sweden’s 583 points for the song “Tattoo” performed by Lorin.

The 29-year-old Helsinki-born frontman took to the Liverpool stage bare-chested in black leather trousers and a neon green bolero, accompanied by dancers in hot pink costumes.

ABBA won Eurovision in 1974

Swedish group ABBA entered the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with the song Waterloo, and Björn, Benny, Agnetha and Anni-Fried won fans and fame by lifting the glass microphone-shaped trophy.

2024 marks exactly 50 years since their decisive victory, and many expect the group to compete in next year’s competition.