Marina Satti Breaks Her Silence: “The Yawn Was Discomfort. The World Understood.”
A year after her infamous yawn during a Eurovision press conference caused social media to implode faster than a dodgy pyrotechnic in Malmö, Greek artist Marina Satti has finally spoken out — and no, she’s not sorry (well, not entirely).
Speaking with Grigoris Arnaoutoglou on The 2Night Show this past Monday, the multifaceted singer opened up about Eurovision drama, body image, freedom of expression, and how not everything is about cameras at airports. Spoiler: she’s here to be honest, and she brought her full self to the conversation.
“I Know Exactly Why I Did It”
Yes, the yawn. In May 2024, during the press conference following the second Eurovision semi-final, Satti was caught mid-yawn while Israeli contestant Eden Golan was speaking — a moment that quickly ignited online fury and accusations of disrespect. Was it a political statement? A moment of fatigue? Passive aggression? Or, as some on Twitter/X declared, “a micro-performance of protest”?
Turns out, it was none of those — and all of them.
“The yawn was a sign of discomfort — not only with what was said, but with things happening around us at that moment,” Satti explained. “People understand more than we think. And frankly, no matter what I say, it won’t change the reality of the humanitarian catastrophe we’re witnessing.”
She admits she might have expressed her views differently, had she realised how magnified that moment would become.
“If I’d known the spotlight would be on me just then, I’d have done it another way. I don’t retract my stance — I only regret the delivery.”
Diplomatic? Yes. Honest? Very.
No Cameras, No Problem
Though her Eurovision experience placed her under an intense media microscope, Satti insists that the real reward comes when audiences turn up — not for the cameras, but for the music.
“If people stopped coming to my concerts, that would hurt. That’s what validates my work — not an airport paparazzo.”
As for her evolution as an artist and woman, she didn’t hold back:
“When I was younger, I cared too much about what others thought. I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. But then I realised life’s too short. I used to stress over my body, my weight… so in 2023, I said: enough. Time to wear everything I never dared to wear.”
She describes her current vibe as joyful de-shaming, unapologetic playfulness, and musical experimentation — all with a hint of existential carpe diem.
“I’m Not in a Weak Position Just Because I Disagreed with a Few Journalists”
Satti may have received backlash, but she remains unshaken:
“I’m not in a weak position. I just want to be honest with how I feel. You can’t define someone by one word or gesture.”
She added that she regrets any embarrassment caused to her team, not her own integrity.
“I was representing others too, and I felt bad for putting them in a difficult spot. But that doesn’t mean I’ll compromise who I am.”
On Eden Golan: “Things Got Twisted”
Satti strongly denied claims of bullying Israeli contestant Eden Golan, a narrative pushed by parts of the international press.
“That hurt me the most — the idea I bullied a girl. That’s not me. I said back then she was stunning and a fantastic singer. Somewhere along the way, the narratives got tangled.”
British understatement translation: «It’s not quite the storm in a teacup they made it out to be, but nearly.»
Passing the Baton to Klavdia
Satti had nothing but praise for Greece’s 2025 Eurovision entrant Klavdia:
“She’s an exceptional singer. With that voice, she could’ve won. I didn’t feel at all unsupported last year — the Greek people gave me so much love.”
On comparisons between them?
“Why compare? Different ages, voices, songs. It makes no sense. I don’t see other women as competition. We’re all here to express something unique.”
One Yawn. A Thousand Interpretations. One Artist Who Isn’t Backing Down.
Whether you saw the yawn as rebellion, rudeness, or just jet lag, one thing is clear: Marina Satti is a woman in full control of her narrative — and she’s telling it on her own terms. With candour, vulnerability, and a yawn that now seems far more layered than the internet ever gave it credit for.
Source: Zappit.gr
