Dutch Singer Joost Klein Expelled from Eurovision Contest over Alleged Backstage Incident

 

MALMO, Sweden (AP) – The Netherlands’ contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest was dramatically expelled from competition hours before Saturday’s final over a backstage incident that is being investigated by police.   Listen To Story

 

Organizer of the European Broadcasting Union said Swedish police were investigating “a complaint made by a female member of the production crew” and it would not be appropriate for Klein to participate while the legal process was underway.

 

Klein had failed to perform at two dress rehearsals on Friday, and the contest organizer said it was investigating an “incident.”

 

Though rumors had been flying the incident was connected to Israel’s delegation, organizers said the incident “did not involve any other performer or delegation member.”

 

Dutch broadcaster AVROTOS, one of dozens of public broadcasters that collectively fund and broadcast the contest, said it “finds the disqualification disproportionate and is shocked by the decision.”

 

“We deeply regret this and will come back to this later,” AVROTOS said in a statement.

 

Though the contest’s motto is “united by music,” this year’s event has proven exceptionally divisive.

 

The competition that pits nations against one another for pop music glory is reaching its conclusion in the Swedish city of Malmo, with Israel at the center of a political storm. It has attracted large pro-Palestinian demonstrations, with protesters saying Israel should be excluded because of its conduct in the war in the Gaza Strip.

 

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 cease-fire in the seven-month war. In Finland, a group of about 40 protesters stormed the headquarters of public broadcaster YLE on Saturday morning, demanding it withdraw from the song contest because of Israel’s participation.

 

Several miles (kilometers) from central Malmo at the Malmo Arena, 25 acts – narrowed from 37 entrants by two semi-final runoffs – are due to perform three-minute songs in front of a live audience of thousands and an estimated 180 million viewers around the world.

 

‘Not Welcome in Your Own City’: Jews in Eurovision Host Malmö Fear Islamist Violence https://t.co/lVtOu3cLoL

— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) May 10, 2024

 

 

 

 

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