Dave Benton says he is not offended by a video depicting Slovenia’s 2025 Eurovision representative impersonating him with darkened skin. 

Klemen Slakonja won EMA – Slovenia’s national selection – on Saturday night, and 12 hours later he posted a video to his own YouTube channel in which he impersonated every Eurovision winner since 2000. 

Benton is of Caribbean origin, and in Slakonja’s video he wore makeup to darken his skin in order to better resemble Benton. On Monday, Slakonja blurred his depiction of Benton.

The video drew a huge reaction on social media, with some ordering the EBU to ban the Slovenian representative from the competition in Basel this May. 

But Benton is unfazed by Slakonja’s actions. 

Speaking exclusively to The Euro Trip, Benton said: “From my side, no offence. 

“To my professional knowledge, Klemen is a very talented performer, singer and artist.  

“If he would have impersonated me with a white person’s face, it would have never been correct. 

“People have to understand that to paint a blackface is different from using a dark-coloured makeup.” 

Some social media users pointed out that Slakonja’s actions could be in breach of appendix one of the new Eurovision Code of Conduct which forbids, among other things, “using slurs, derogatory remarks, or promoting stereotypes based on race”. 

But Benton doesn’t agree. Instead he is impressed by Slakonja’s representation of all the artists in the video. 

“I think he did all the artists very well, including me. 

“An act well done.” 

The Euro Trip has approached Slovenian broadcaster RTV SLO, Klemen Slakonja and the EBU for comment.