Eurovision 2018: SuRie praised over handling of stage invader shouting 'Nazis'

'SuRie reacted with ultimate professionalism and courage'

SuRie has been praised for the way she handled an apparent serial stage invader despite the UK finishing third bottom at this year's Eurovision contest.

The singer was halfway through her performance of UK entry Storm at the contest’s final in Lisbon on Saturday when a man rushed on stage and stole her microphone.

The protester, believed to be an activist and rapper who goes by the name Dr ACactivism, compared the UK media to Nazis while dressed in a T-shirt plugging his own e-book before he was tackled by security.

SuRie, whose real name is Susanna Marie Cork, was commended for her dignified reaction after she stepped aside and clapped before being handed a microphone and carrying on with her performance.

Author JK Rowling praised the singer after the incident, calling her “a pro”.

“That was everyone who's ever been on stage's worst nightmare and it must have been scary, but what a pro, what a recovery,” she tweeted.

Meanwhile Australian commentator Joel Creasey was less polite, branding the protester an “absolute c**khead”.

The singer doesn’t appear to be the first person interrupted on TV by Dr ACactivism

The protester, who describes himself as a philosopher, activist and DJ/MC based in London, seems to have a history of invading the stage.

TV presenter Stephen Nolan claims a stage invader at the 2018 Eurovision song contest was the same person who interrupted him during BBC's Nolan Live (BBC Nolan Live)

After his stunt at the Eurovision final on Saturday, Stephen Nolan claimed it was the same protester who rushed on stage during his BBC show Nolan Live in 2017.

The TV presenter, who was left visibly startled at the time, tweeted: “The guy who invaded my Nolan Live tv show on BBC1 went by the Twitter name @DrACactivism.

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“I’m pretty sure this is him again at Eurovision.”

“I’ve been on a live TV set when this activism man invades,” he later added.

“Given the current environment, you panic inside for a split second.

“Which is why SuRie reacted with ultimate professionalism & courage.”

Dr AC is also believed to be the same man who caused disruption by storming the stage at the National Television Awards and interrupting last year’s final of ITV’s The Voice.

The European Broadcasting Union said the person responsible for disrupting SuRie's performance had been handed over to police in Lisbon on Saturday.

(EPA (EPA)

“The EBU regrets a stage invasion took place during the UK performance at the Eurovision Song Contest grand final in Lisbon this evening,” the organisation said in a statement.

“The person responsible is currently in police custody.

“The UK singer SuRie and her team were offered the option to sign again but decided not to because they were extremely proud of her performance and have decided that there is absolutely no reason to perform the song again.”

SuRie and her team were given the choice of a repeat performance but decided against it as they were already “extremely proud” of her performance.

She finished third from bottom, ranking the UK 24th out of 26 countries in the 63rd Eurovision song contest.

She later posted a tongue-in-cheek tweet, saying “well, I’ve always said anything can happen at Eurovision”.

Israel’s Netta Barzilai won this year’s competition with her dance song Toy.