Various national media in Hungary, as well as big international media reported that Hungary withdrew from the Eurovision Song Contest due to the fact that the Hungarian Government and the national broadcaster believe that the Contest is “too gay”. MTVA, Hungary’s national broadcaster, has just responded to these reports with the following statement:

The public media finds it outrageous and unacceptable, and therefore firmly rejects recent statements in the domestic and international press that Hungary is not participating in Eurovision because the show gives space to homosexual artists.
These views which refer to sexual orientation violate human dignity, the ethical norms of press as well as the law. A professional decision was made that next year, instead of sending an act to the Eurovision Song Contest, we would assist the talented Hungarian musicians directly and help the productions they have created. We would like to make it clear that we do not look at any performance, event or organization based on anyone’s sexual orientation.

A clear reason about why Hungary is not going to take part in the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest is still not provided, unless it’s a matter of “one of the Heads of MTVA” simply doesn’t want Hungary to compete. The former Head of Delegation Mr. Lőrinc Bubnó resigned in MTVA earlier this summer, and his replacement has not been appointed.

ESCBubble reached out to MTVA various times about the withdrawal, but not once have we received an actual reason behind the country’s withdrawal from the Contest.

Hungary is going to miss the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time after 2010. After their comeback in 2011, Hungary failed to qualify for the final only once – earlier this year in Tel Aviv, and it achieved three top 10 results – the best one being in 2014 when András Kállay Saunders sang his way to the 5th place in Copenhagen with “Running”.