Måneskin address accusations of queerbaiting

Exciting times for Måneskin: On Friday (20 January 2023), their 3rd studio album “RUSH!” was released via Epic Records / Sony Music Entertainment. In the course of it, lots of interviews were given. One of these interviews was conducted with the British daily newspaper “The Guardian” in which the winners of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 address accusations of queerbaiting. Although two band members of Måneskin – bassist Victoria De Angelis and drummer Ethan Torchio – belong to the LGBTQ+ community, the other two band members – frontman Damiano David and guitarist Thomas Raggi – are apparently criticised for wearing make-up and high heels, so a more gender-fluid style, despite being straight. Victoria De Angelis sees no problem in the gender-fluid fashion of her straight bandmates:

“There are some cases where it happens, but sometimes [the accusations are] so extreme. It’s stupid for queer people, who should fight these stereotypes, to label it as this and create more hate. The fact [Raggi and David] are straight doesn’t mean they can’t wear makeup. Or heels.”

– Victoria De Angelis

Damiano David adds:

“Everything me and Thomas do is always filtered by two people who are [queer]. Of course we don’t experience the same stuff, but we live every day very closely with people from the community.”

– Damiano David

At the same time, the quartet from Italy’s capital Rome states that they do not conform to the clichéd rock’n’roll lifestyle either:

“People think we behave like the Sex Pistols, or Mötley Crüe, but we’re nothing like that. We’ve got more educated on the risks of drugs and how they affect your body. I don’t even drink alcohol any more.”

– Damiano David