Jessica Mauboy Breaks Silence on 'Horrific' Eurovision 2018 Ordeal
Australian pop sensation Jessica Mauboy has, for the first time, publicly disclosed the distressing details of her 'horrific' experience at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018. The global music spectacle, which she represented Australia in with her song We Got Love, left her profoundly shaken and emotionally scarred. Nearly eight years after the event, Mauboy has courageously shared how the performance, now one of her most-streamed tracks, was overshadowed by intense 'politics' and a severe backlash following her 20th-place finish.
The Painful Aftermath and Industry Criticism
Despite the enduring popularity of We Got Love, Jessica confessed that the song became something she actively avoided, serving as a painful reminder of the turmoil that unfolded behind the scenes. 'I'm reclaiming [the song] now because of the horrific way it went down then,' she revealed during an interview on this week's Stellar's Something To Talk About podcast. 'I celebrate it differently now. It was one of the biggest vulnerable moments of my life, putting that song into the world, sharing the story of those lyrics. It was kind of overshadowed by politics.'
While Eurovision is often marketed as a unifying celebration of music, Mauboy described a far harsher reality, shaped by immense pressure, backstage noise, and competing agendas. She was unprepared for the competition's brutal environment, and in the immediate aftermath, the situation took a deeply personal turn. 'I remember receiving a phone call from [a Sony executive] saying I hadn't done enough or I didn't do my job properly,' she recalled. 'I was confused but then put the puzzle together; they obviously hoped we were going to get something – a hit – out of it.' This criticism stung, especially given the emotional investment she had poured into the performance.
Broader Forces and a Song's Redemption
Jessica explained that the experience was clouded not only by industry pressure but also by wider forces, including ongoing tensions around Australia's place in Eurovision and voting patterns that have long frustrated local entrants. 'I wanted to bring the club to them because it's one of those songs that just hits home,' she said. 'Every time I perform it I get quite emotional, because it says everything about the corruption, politics and greed of the world right now.'
Ironically, the song that once symbolized one of the toughest moments of her career has since thrived, particularly within the LGBTQIA+ community, where it has found a second life on dance floors across Europe. Eight years on, Jessica has finally reclaimed it, performing a remix version at last month's inaugural Mighty Hoopla festival in Sydney with a renewed sense of ownership and empowerment.
A Turning Point and New Beginnings
The Eurovision experience ultimately marked a significant turning point in Mauboy's career. After years under major labels, she stepped away, first leaving Sony in 2020 and then parting ways with Warner in 2024, before launching her own independent label, Jamally. Now, she is determined to approach her music differently. 'I'm so driven this year with making really great music and just collaborating the hell out of amazing artists,' she explains. 'I want to be that person that works with them. I want to do all the baddest good things. It makes me so happy to create those spaces.'
In recent years, Jessica has been achieving significant personal milestones. In March 2025, she revealed that she became a mother for the first time, sharing the happy news with Stellar that she and her husband, Themeli Magriplis, are the proud parents of a baby girl. This new chapter adds to her journey of resilience and growth beyond the Eurovision ordeal.
