Netherlands’ Joost Klein booted from Eurovision 2024

MALMO, Sweden (AP) — A Dutch public broadcaster reacted angrily after the Netherlands’ contestant within the Eurovision Music Contest was dramatically expelled from the competitors hours earlier than Saturday’s ultimate over a backstage altercation that’s being investigated by police.

The European Broadcasting Union, which organizes Eurovision, stated that Swedish police had been investigating “a criticism made by a feminine member of the manufacturing crew” about Joost Klein, and it wouldn’t be acceptable for him to take part whereas the authorized course of was underway.

Klein had did not carry out at two costume rehearsals on Friday within the Swedish metropolis of Malmo, and organizers had stated they had been investigating an “incident.” Although rumors had been flying that the incident was related to Israel’s delegation, organizers stated it “didn’t contain another performer or delegation member.”

The EBU stated that Klein gained’t obtain any factors from nationwide juries or from Eurovision viewers, who assist decide the winner, and the Netherlands gained’t seem on the competition scoreboard. Dutch viewers will nonetheless be capable of vote within the contest, since viewers in Eurovision member nations aren’t allowed to vote for their very own nation’s act.

It was unclear whether or not Klein was nonetheless in Malmo on Saturday.

Such a last-minute disqualification is unprecedented within the 68-year historical past of Eurovision, though nations have boycotted the occasion and in some circumstances been expelled — together with Russia, kicked out after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, one among dozens of public broadcasters that collectively fund and broadcast the competition, stated it was “shocked by the choice.”

Later it issued a press release saying that as Klein got here offstage after Thursday’s semifinal he was filmed with out his consent and in flip made a “threatening motion” towards the digicam.

The broadcaster stated Klein didn’t contact the digicam or the camerawoman, and known as his expulsion a “very heavy and disproportionate” punishment.

“We’re very disenchanted and upset for the thousands and thousands of followers who had been so excited for tonight,” it stated. “What Joost dropped at the Netherlands and Europe shouldn’t have ended this manner.”

The 26-year-old Dutch singer and rapper had been a bookies’ favourite, in addition to a fan favourite, together with his track “Europapa,” an upbeat Euro-techno ode to the continent’s range that can be a tribute to Klein’s mother and father, who died when he was a baby.

Dave Adams, a British fan dressed as Klein in a blue go well with with pointy shoulder pads, stated he was a “bit gutted” by the disqualification.

“It’s only a bit miserable isn’t it?” he stated. “(We’ll) see the way it goes immediately. I’m certain there’ll be a great winner — hopefully anyway.”

The competitors that pits nations in opposition to each other for pop music glory has already been marked by division over the inclusion of Israel. It has attracted giant protests from Palestinians and their supporters, who say Israel must be excluded due to its conduct of the conflict in Gaza.

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This story has been corrected to point out that the spelling of the Dutch broadcaster is AVROTROS, not AVROTOS.

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Related Press writers Kwiyeon Ha and Hilary Fox in Malmo contributed to this story.