There was severe FOMO around Dublin last night as Lizzo took to the stage of The Olympia for a concert that sold out in minutes. Very few Lizzo fans were lucky enough to grab tickets, but some of the fortunate few who did, spotted a familiar face in the audience last night. News started to spread that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was in the audience and many Lizzbians had something to say.
Some fans were annoyed that Varadkar had a ticket while they did not, but some seemed to enjoy that he is a fan of superstar Lizzo.
A girl in front of me at Lizzo tonight waved at Leo Varadkar, and when he waved back she gave him the finger. God Bless.
— Zoë (@zoeaconroy) November 10, 2019
Lizzo playing the tin whistle and later singing "somebody come get this man" and pointing at Leo Varadkar… She really said fuck the brits AND Fine Gael
— 🇵🇸 (@squssums) November 10, 2019
Leo Varadkar at a Lizzo concert sounds like the plot of a Leaving Cert Irish story. It would start with "Chuaigh mé agus Leo Varadkar go dti an cheolchoirm" and would obviously incorporate a massive "GO TOBANN!" at some stage.
— Patrick Kelleher (@paddykell) November 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/PeaceMusicCiara/status/1193692649917755392?s=20
Leo Varadkar is there. I'm going to become Taoiseach so I can go to as many concerts as he does.#lizzo #lizzodublin
— Caolán Mc Aree (@Caolanmcaree) November 10, 2019
Leo Varadkar getting Lizzo tickets and not me? A crime
— Allie✨ (@fizzyallie) November 10, 2019
Leo is gonna claim back Lizzo tickets as expenses
— Michelle (@ismisemichelle_) November 10, 2019
One user said that people’s reaction was bordering on homophobic as “nobody has a problem when politician’s go to GAA matches or The Script”
https://twitter.com/sophienicm/status/1193684286425227266?s=20
This Lizzo controversy follows previous criticism Varadkar encountered after writing a letter to Kylie Minogue, The Queen of Ireland, Panti Bliss said he doesn’t believe there would have been any backlash had the letter been sent by a straight politician.
Rory said: “He got bashed for that. I’m always jumping to defend the gay, but if that had been Pink Floyd, do you think there would have been such fuss? No there wouldn’t.
“There’s a slight hum of homophobia about it. Every other Taoiseach has gone to things. If it’s because he’s a gay man who likes Kylie? That’s the problem.
“Thank god he likes Kylie. If he didn’t he’d be weird. Who wouldn’t have written that letter?
“He’s the Taoiseach and she’s staying across the road. Of course, you’re going to. It’s a little sweetener to the job that we all would have taken.”
Before Lizzo landing in Dublin for her gig, the immensely talented street artist Emma Blake honoured Lizzo with a stunning mural of the singer’s Cuz I Love You tour image on Chatham Row, Dublin.
Ahead of Lizzo’s show in the Olympia Theatre on November 10th, a mural of the singer went up on the side of Chatham Row and South William Street. Reacting to news of the mural, Lizzo posted on Twitter “WAIT… OMG.”
WAIT… OMG 🙈😍😳🤯 https://t.co/4P6eRAAtSG
— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo) November 4, 2019
Blake has created many wonderful pieces of art across the city. Recently, she created a mural of Sister Michael from the Derry Girls with the caption “Another hotel? Christ” on the side of the Bernard Shaw.
Finished this piece yesterday morning @TheBernardShaw of Sister Michael not impressed with the The Shaw being knocked down for ANOTHER hotel. We don't need more hotels, we need our creative spaces protected & we need affordable housing. Cheers for the nod of approval @siobhni 🙌 pic.twitter.com/d7KlQUfLpA
— Emmalene Blake (@emmaleneblake) November 4, 2019
The two of them have formed a dream team bringing a splash of colour to the grey streets of Dublin that has everyone “feeling good as hell.” One Twitter user said, “Can’t believe I get to pass by a Lizzo mural every day.”
This celebration of the singer has lifted everyone’s spirits. Street art in Dublin continues to thrive, heading in new and exciting directions regardless of rain or shine.
As Lizzo sings, “If I’m shinin’, everybody gonna shine.”
© 2019 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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