Just hours before kick-off, the Netherlands were banned from tonight’s Eurovision final.
The reason is that the Dutch participant Joost Klein is under investigation by the Swedish police.
It is the Eurovision Song Contest itself that announces the artist’s disqualification on Saturday afternoon:
– Swedish police have investigated a complaint from a female member of the production about an incident following his performance in the semi-final on Thursday. While the investigation is ongoing, it would not be appropriate for him to continue in the competition, the Eurovision organizer wrote in a press release.
Dutch broadcaster: Make a threatening gesture towards the camera
On Saturday afternoon, the Dutch broadcaster Avrotros comes out with its explanation for the incident that has caused a flood of rumours.
The broadcaster says that the Dutch artist Joost Klein was filmed shortly after he had left the stage after Thursday’s semi-final and had to rush to a production room.
– At that time, Joost said repeatedly that he did not want to be filmed. This was not respected. This led to a threatening movement from Joost towards the camera, write Avrotros in a message on Instagram.
The Dutch broadcaster Avrotros with a report on the much talked about incident.
Photo: Screenshot/Instagram
The broadcaster emphasizes that Klein did not touch the camerawoman.
They add that they used Friday and Saturday for extensive consultation with the EBU and that they proposed several solutions, which they did not hear about.
– We stand for good manners – don’t misunderstand – but in our view, a decision on exclusion is not proportionate to this incident, writes Avrotros.
It is the organizer EBU that has taken the decision to ban the Netherlands and Klein from the final tonight. The EBU has not yet commented on the content of the incident.
The Dutch broadcaster Avrotros believes the decision is “disproportionate”.
– Avrotros is shocked by the decision. I am very disappointed, write them in one post on X earlier Saturday.
As a result, the Netherlands will not award jury points during the final tonight.
– Now that Avrotros is no longer part of the final in the Eurovision Song Contest, I don’t feel the need to hand out the points to the Dutch jury.
It was Nikkie de Jager who was to hand out the points in the country during the final tonight. The channel states that in conversation with her they agreed to refrain.
– Just like Nikkie, I imagined that this evening would be very different.
– Among the most popular
– It is sad and unfortunate. And part of the bad atmosphere that prevails in Eurovision right now, says Morten Thomassen, president of the Norwegian MGP club.
He believes Klein was one of the most popular artists in this year’s competition.
– He was seen as a small hero by many, because he was clear in his position on Israel’s participation.
Morten Thomassen is president of the Norwegian MGP club.
Photo: Ksenia Novikova / NRK
The Eurovision enthusiast says it is completely unique that a participant is banned on the same day as the final.
Manager of ESC-Norge, Mandy Pettersen, says she trusts that the organizer has made a careful assessment before they decided to ban a participant.
– Despite everything that has happened so far, I hope that tonight’s finale does not bear the mark of more unrest, and that everyone involved will have a safe and pleasant experience, on stage and in the hall, she says.
The police are investigating the incident
On Friday evening, the news came that the Dutch Eurovision participant Joost Klein had been refused to sing in front of the jury.
The EBU and Swedish police then said that they were investigating an incident with the artist, but did not want to go into more detail.
On Saturday morning, the police in Malmö announced that they had started an investigation into a case linked to Eurovision.
They would not comment on whether Klein was one of the suspects. Now the ESC itself has confirmed that Klein is under investigation.
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This message came from the EBU on Friday. They write that they are investigating an incident connected to the Dutch artist.
Photo: Screenshot Instagram
The police also say that they have interviewed witnesses and started investigative measures.
Published 11.05.2024, at 10.29 Updated 11.05.2024, at 21.06