Samantha Mumba rips Eurosong panel as "rude" and "vile"

Irish musician Samantha Mumba tore into the "Late Late Show Eurosong Special" judging panel in a social media post on Sunday, February 9.

Dublin native Mumba was one of the six musical acts who performed on the "Late Late" special on Friday night, hoping to be chosen to represent Ireland at Eurovision later this year through a public vote, national jury vote, and international jury vote.

Part of Friday's special was a panel of experts who gave their analysis on each of the acts - last year’s Irish Eurovision entry Bambie Thug, RTÉ 2FM and "Ireland's Fittest Family" presenter Laura Fox, "Dancing with the Stars" judge and choreographer Arthur Gourounlian, and chef Donal Skehan, who was a former Eurosong contestant in 2008.

On Friday, Mumba performed her song "My Way," but ultimately Norwegian singer EMMY and her song "Laika Party" were selected as Ireland's Eurovision act.

On Sunday, Mumba took to Instagram to thank her fans for "all the incredible messages and love!!" while sharing some behind-the-scenes pictures from Friday night's "Late Late Show Eurosong Special."

She said she is "beyond proud" of herself and her team for the work and dedication that went into her act, adding "I honestly wouldn’t change a thing. Truly. Those that got it, GOT IT…..and those that didn’t, that’s ok too. It’s my art and I stand by it."

However, she continued: “Special mention to the 'panel' (aside from Bambie [Thug] who I stan) who not only didn’t have the credentials, experience or professionalism required and were unnecessarily rude and vile to all the finalists - my parting gift them is a bag of 🍆 to slowly choke on. (Would have said this in person but they all left the green room before I had the opportunity to) unsurprisingly."

Mumba did go on to thank “The Late Late Show” crew and team, saying it was a "joy" to see them and work with them again.

She concluded her post by congratulating EMMY, who will go on to represent Ireland at Eurovision in Switzerland in May.

Responding to Mumba's post, a spokesperson for RTÉ said: "We are extremely grateful to The Late Late Show Eurosong panel for their professionalism, insight, integrity and good humour.

"Their role is to give their honest reaction to the performances on the night, offering their thoughts on the likely success of the song and act at the Eurovision Song Contest.

"Our panel did this in a thoughtful and considered way. It seems this was in line with the public vote that ultimately made the decision on the artist and song they wished to represent Ireland at this year's contest.

"It's never easy to offer a personal opinion, as not everyone will agree. Our panel did that with the utmost care and we wish to extend our thanks to them for the excellent job they did on Friday night."

Donal Skehan also responded via Instagram stories, saying in part: "Tearing others down is never a good look, especially when everyone involved has worked to make the process as fair and constructive as possible."

He added: "To insult the credentials of myself and my fellow panelists, Laura Fox and Arthur Gourounlian, is completely unprofessional."