“We are really shocked about what some people are saying about Damiano doing drugs”
Eesh. It’s a tough life, being in the public eye. Almost as soon as you arrive at the top, some folk are instantly trying to yank you back down. Take Damiano David, for example. Winning Eurovision one minute, forced to strenuously deny he’d been caught using cocaine the next.
David and his Maneskin bandmates had hoovered up the points for Italy on Saturday night with their entry, Zitti e buoni, but some speculated he had been captured hoovering up something else from a table as the scores were being announced.
A short bit of footage, in which David can be seen bending over a table, was shared high and wide on social media, with some alleging him to have been using cocaine.
David was even asked about it in the press conference after the show, explaining he had actually been picking up shards of broken glass off the table.
“I don’t of drugs….No cocaine please, don’t say that”.
Italy’s #Eurovision lead singer when asked about the video circulating of him appearing to sniff something off the table on live TV.
— Megha Mohan (@meghamohan) May 22, 2021
“Thomas [Raggi, Maneskin’s guitarist] broke a glass,” he said. “I don’t use drugs, please guys, do not say that.
“Don’t say that really. No cocaine please, do not say that.”
The band also went on to post a statement on their Instagram Story, expressing their shock at the allegations.
‘We are really shocked about what some people are saying about Damiano doing drugs,’ it read. We really are AGAINST drugs and we never used cocaine. We are ready to get tasted [sic], cause we have nothing to hide.
‘We are here to play our music and are so happy with our Eurovision win and we wanna thank everyone for supporting us.
‘Rock n’ roll never dies. We love you.’
Maneskin’s victory was in stark contrast to the UK’s entry from James Newman, which failed to earn a single point.
