Guy Sebastian Admits Bali Nine 'Tribute' Was Probably A Mistake After Online Scandal

Australian Eurovision representative Guy Sebastian has had to backpedal on a 53-second-long song he released on Facebook the day of the executions of Bali Nine smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran after labelling it a "tribute" to the condemned men.

As News Corp reports, in the wake of significant online backlash, Sebastian has attempted to mitigate some of the criticism being levelled his way, explaining that a combination of jet lag and high emotions had perhaps clouded his judgment ahead of uploading the track, as he had just arrived back in Australia after a flight from London.

"I'd just landed and I literally only watched the part where [Sukumaran's] sister and mum were crying through the streets, just screaming and saying 'let my son live', and it struck a chord with me," Sebastian said.

However, that side of things got lost in the wave of online detraction that emerged following the song's uploading, with Sebastian now admitting, "My mistake was to call it a tribute".

"I wasn't necessarily paying tribute to them and what they did as human beings," Sebastian explained. "I did it for the family. I wanted something to say that I don't agree with capital punishment.

"I don't think marching someone, [strapping them] to a cross and shooting them in the chest is the answer."

Sebastian consequently clarified to News Corp that he "absolutely detest[s] drug trafficking".

"I have personally and through my foundation seen the effect of drugs," he said.

You can hear the song below, with its accompanying video, as posted by Sebastian on 30 April.