Nationalists attack Viktor Király – the popular contestant of The Voice

My wife and another 15 million Americans regularly tune in to the NBC television show The Voice where four pop stars, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Pharrell Williams and Adam Levine, try to find America’s next “Voice.” The talent show is open for everyone, there is no age limit, amateur singers and professional performers may try their luck. The Voice is wildly popular and now it has a “Hungarian” contestant

Viktor Király was born and raised in Great Neck, New York, and moved to his parents’ homeland of Hungary when he was 16 years old. In the introductory film clip he talks in flawless English about how hard it was to integrate into Hungarian life. His mother had cancer and the family struggled. Király played the drums in garage bands as a kid before finding his voice in Budapest and becoming a singer.

Now at 31, he already has a musical career in Hungary, and wants to become an international star.

For his audition Király sang Don Hathaway’s rendition of “What’s Going On,” the famous Marvin Gaye tune. He was fabulous. The judges unanimously praised him, they all wanted to be his coach and were openly vying for his affection.

You would think that Hungarians in Budapest were elated by Király’s success. Not exactly.

Viktor Király performs in the NBC talent show The Voice.

Viktor Király performs in the NBC talent show The Voice.

He was attacked in the local media and by bloggers. Why does he participate in the US talent show? He already won a Hungarian voice competition Megasztár years ago and has a career in Budapest. His mother tongue is English. Why does he present himself as a Hungarian singer? (Click here to read about the attacks in Hungarian.)

And there was one particular issue which disturbed Hungary’s right wing audience. Király said in the introductory film-clip that he wants to find his way back home – to the US. The headline reads: “Király considers the US as his home country.” Horribile Dictu! (Read here in Hungarian.)

Hungary’s blind nationalism is everywhere today. It is instilled in toddlers in kindergarten and taught in schools. Sport, culture and entertainment stars are judged by their patriotism. Should performers be questioned on how Hungarian they are or how loyal they are to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s nationalist agenda?

Mr. Király is a talented singer and the attacks of Hungarian nationalists are misplaced. They are truly disturbing.

Finally, click here to watch his sensational performance. Congratulations!

György Lázár

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