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The Netherlands’ Eurovision entry has been disqualified just hours before the grand final as police investigate a threat allegedly made during a backstage incident.
Joost Klein was a hot favorite to take part in the international song contest, but organizers have kicked him out while police investigate allegations of threats made to a Swedish police officer. There are conflicting reports as to whether Klein or a member of his team was involved.
Klein was banned from the final two dress rehearsals on Friday as competition organizer the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said it was investigating an “incident”.
The EBU said Swedish police were investigating a “complaint lodged by a female member of the production team” and it would not be appropriate for Klein to participate while the legal process is ongoing.
Swedish police have confirmed that a man has been reported for making “illegal threats” at Malmo Arena after Thursday’s semi-final.
“The investigation has been completed by the police … and the case will now go to the prosecutor within a few weeks.”
While a Swedish police spokeswoman said in a statement to CNN: “A man is suspected of making illegal threats. The crime is said to have taken place at Malmö Arena on Thursday evening.’
“The man [was] questioned by the police but not detained,” she added.
The EBU subsequently confirmed that Klein would not take part in the final.
“We maintain a zero tolerance policy for inappropriate behavior at our event and are committed to providing a safe and secure working environment for all race staff,” they said.
“In light of this, Joost Klein’s behavior towards a team member is considered a breach of competition rules.”
The EBU said Klein will not receive any points from the national juries or Eurovision viewers who help choose the winner, and the Netherlands will not appear on the contest’s scoreboard.
Dutch viewers will still be able to vote in the contest, as viewers in Eurovision member countries are not allowed to vote for their own nation’s performance.
Such a last-minute disqualification is unprecedented in Eurovision’s 68-year history, although countries have boycotted the event and in some cases been expelled – including Russia, kicked out after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, one of dozens of public broadcasters that collectively fund and broadcast the contest, was furious at the decision.
“AVROTROS finds the disqualification disproportionate and is shocked by the decision,” they said in a statement on social media.
“We deeply regret this and will come back to it later.”
The 26-year-old Dutch singer and rapper was a bookies favorite as well as fans with his song Europe Popean upbeat Euro-techno ode to the continent that’s also a tribute to Klein’s parents, who died when he was a child.
Although there were rumors that the incident was related to the Israeli delegation, organizers said the incident “did not involve any other performer or member of the delegation”.
Saturday night’s final (Sunday morning AEST) will now go ahead with just 25 entrants – down from 37 entries in two semi-finals earlier this week – in front of a live audience of thousands and around 180 million viewers worldwide.
This will be the 68th Eurovision Song Contest and will be held in the Swedish city of Malmö.
The competition was created after the Second World War to unite Europe through song, and this year it takes place against the backdrop of two wars across the continent.
Although the contest’s motto is “united by music,” this year’s event has drawn major protests from Palestinians and their supporters, who say Israel should be excluded for waging war against Hamas.
Thousands of people are expected to march for the second time this week through Sweden’s third-largest city, which has a large Muslim population, to demand a boycott of Israel and a ceasefire in the seven-month war.
Dean Vuletich, an expert on the contest’s history, says that despite this year’s division, “there is no other cultural event that unites Europeans the way Eurovision does”.
“Just that moment where everyone is watching the same TV show that’s being broadcast live in 37 countries – that’s something very special.”
This year’s entries range from emotional to eccentric. These include the wacky ’90s nostalgia of Finland’s Windows95man, who emerges from a giant egg on stage wearing very little clothing.
Ireland’s Bambie Thug summons witch spirits on stage and leads a screaming coach in Malmö, while Spain’s Nebulossa bravely reclaims a term used as an insult to women in Dawn.
Favorites include Swiss singer Nemo — who would be the first non-binary Eurovision winner if their opera song The code tops the vote — and Baby Lasagna from Croatia.
His song Rome Tim Tagi Dim is an exciting rock piece that deals with the issue of young Croatians leaving the country in search of a better life.
Sometimes, however, songs run afoul of the contest’s ban on overtly “political” statements.
Eurovision organizers have told Israel to change the original title of its song, October rain — an apparent reference to the October 7 Hamas attack that killed around 1,200 Israelis and sparked the Gaza war.
Israeli singer Eden Golan has skyrocketed since delivering the power ballad, already titled hurricane, in Thursday’s semifinal. Golan faced boos at dress rehearsals but was voted into the final by viewers around the world.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised 20-year-old Golan for his performance despite “fighting an ugly wave of anti-Semitism”.
Competing musicians are under pressure, inundated with messages and abuse on social media and unable to speak out due to competition rules.
Italy’s contestant Angelina Mango made a statement when she entered the Eurovision media center on Friday and performed the John Lennon song imagine dozens of journalists gathered around her.
Swedish singer Loreen, last year’s Eurovision champion – and one of only two acts to win the contest twice – urged people not to close down the “community of love” that is Eurovision.
“What’s happening in the world today and in different places is distorting and traumatizing all of us,” she told The Associated Press.
“What heals trauma… Does trauma heal trauma? Does negativity heal negativity? It doesn’t work like that. The only thing that really heals trauma—that’s science—is love.”
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