The Prosecutor’s Office of the Italian city of Imperia has announced this Thursday an investigation into the singer Blanco after his controversial performance at the Sanremo Festivalin which he destroyed a decoration with roses in an alleged outburst due to a technical problem.

The singer will be investigated for the crime of “damage“, with the aggravating circumstance of having attacked a public good and during an event seen by millions of people, according to local media.

Blanco, alias Riccardo Fabbriconi, from 20 yearsis one of the most famous singers in Italy and in 2022 he conquered Sanremo in a duet with Mahmoodlater representing his country in Eurovision.

This year he returned to the historic musical contest to present the release of his new single “L’isole delle rose“, but ended up serving the controversy to the kick the decoration with numerous roses arranged on stage for their performance.

The singer, who ended his exhibition to the boos of the public, claimed that he had suffered a technical problem that prevented him from listening to the musical base of his song through the headphones and later apologized, although he has always doubted that it was something planned.

The artistic director of the Festival, Amadeus, accepted his apology the next day: “You are aware that you have done something that you should not. She has not asked to be understood, but to be forgiven,” she said on RAI.

However, that same day, the Codacons consumer association urged the Imperia Prosecutor’s Office to open an investigation against Blanco and the Court of Accounts to assess the amount of his damages to force him to pay them. “Blanco will be called to pay for the damages caused to the RAI (public television that organizes the contest) and answer for the crime of damage“Codacons said in a statement.

The association pointed out then that it was not only a gesture “vulgar and inopportune, but also a crime which, contained in article 635 of the Criminal Code, provides for penalties of up to 5 years in prison for anyone who “destroys, loses, deteriorates or renders useless” movable and immovable property.

“Beyond the criminal aspect, the destruction caused yesterday by Blanco produced obvious economic damage to the citizens. The scenery of the Ariston Theater (where Sanremo is celebrated) is in fact paid for by the Italians (…) The breaking of vases and flowers has been a waste of public money that the artist will have to pay,” he said.

The Imperia prosecutor, Alberto Lari, explained to the media that the crime would be ruled out if what happened had been premeditated.

But if RAI maintains that it was not, that it did not know in advance that the destruction would occur, it would be a crime for wasting public property. On the other hand, the “Provida y Familia” association has denounced the rapper Fedez, husband of the “influencer” Chiara Ferragni, and the singer Rosa Chemical for “obscene acts” and emulating a “sexual relationship with orgasm on live television” in Sanremo .