Manizha needed therapy after being bombarded by vitriolic comments from pro-war Russians.
Former Eurovision star Manizha is back
The 33-year-old singer faced a devastating hate campaign after she spoke out about the Russian invasion of Ukraine a year after she represented the country at the ‘Eurovision Song Contest’ in 2021, and she has now revealed she had to seek professional help in order to deal with the intense hostilities that were thrown her way.
Speaking exclusively with BANG Showbiz, she said: “I could say that I was fine and nothing happened with me, but that’s not true.
“There was a lot of therapy after. To go through hate, it’s hard. And if you’re not prepared for hate, it’s much harder.
“And I wasn’t prepared. I was a small star in Russia doing my own independent [thing], and then one day, ‘boom’, I’m a big star and so many people hate me. And I’m having threats, real threats, like people wishing me dead.”
The ‘Russian Woman’ singer - who is also a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - added she found a way through the darkness by only seeing the “good” in others.
She explained: “It was super hard, but what helped me … you know, I started asking myself to see only good things in this world - maybe its so naïve - but during ‘Eurovision’, I met so many amazing people. I’ve done such good work on stage.”
As well as this, Manizha emphasised she was thankful for her critics for showing the performer how to use music as “protection” from the vitriol.
She explained: “I’m thankful for all the haters because they showed me that stage and music is what I have to believe in - this in my protection.
“I mean, who hates you the most? A person who doesn’t know you? A person who is telling you [terrible] things in the comments [online]. It’s a person who doesn’t know you. I don’t know them, why should I waste my time on them?”
On Friday (26.07.24), Manizha released her new single ‘Gun’, a track which the singer is using as her way to spread her message of peace and unity.
However, the performer admitted making the video for the song was fraught with difficulties due to her position as a “cancelled artist” in Russia, meaning the state is constantly watching her for even the slightest hint of rebellion against President Vladimir Putin's regime.
She explained: “There were so many challenges. First, was that I’m a cancelled artist in my own country, and it was impossible to organise and manage so many things because people seem to be afraid of me.
“Because they are afraid to have some problems with the police and government, I don’t know.
It’s such a lonely feeling.”
However, Manizha was able to find a ray of light through her writer Liz Horsman and producer Mike Spencer who stood by her, no matter the hardships she faced.
She reflected: “Liz Horsman, Mike Spencer, they helped me so much.
“They went with me through this very, very difficult path and they showed me that friendship can exist today no matter what. No matter if [you] see a very big wall between our countries. No matter of hate in the media toward Russians.
“I am Russian, but I can understand that today we don’t see humans. We see only labels. And it’s so hard to do art with these things.”
The singer added she still struggles with her position as a “cancelled artist”, but insisted the “power” of music can “inspire” herself and others to choose love.
She said: “What I mean by all this, it’s so hard to be a cancelled artist, trust me.
“But no matter what, I was hoping and believing that music can have such power, which can inspire people and inspire me to go through [all of] this.
“Just to continue living, to continue breathing, to be free. Because I don’t see myself as free right now.”