The Eurovision Song Contest is no stranger to controversy and mid-competition surprises. The nearly 70-year annual singing event, which spawned a 2020 movie starring Will Farrell and Rachel McAdams, has been used to raise awareness of invaded nations, make the British royal family seem cool, and hosted a variety of wildly clad contestants. But allegations of misconduct are where the event’s organizers draw the line, which is why, they say, Dutch artist Joost Klein was kicked out of Eurovision 2024 just hours before he was slated to sing for the title.
Klein, a 26-year-old singer and rapper from Leeuwarden, Netherlands, has thrilled audiences with his pro-Europe techno song, “Europapa,” which Klein has dedicated to his late father. He was expected to compete in Saturday’s finals, alongside representatives of the 25 other countries that persisted through the last four days of competition.
But that plan was derailed Saturday morning, when event organizers announced that Klein had been removed from the Grand Finale lineup due to “an incident following his performance in Thursday night’s Semi Final.”
Swedish police are investigating the incident, which “contrary to some media reports and social media speculation … did not involve any other performer or delegation member,” Eurovision said in a press release.
Joost Klein poses during a press conference after the second semi-final of the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) at the Malmo Arena on May 9, 2024.
JESSICA GOW/TT/Getty Images
Joost Klein poses during a press conference after the second semi-final of the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) at the Malmo Arena on May 9, 2024.
JESSICA GOW/Getty Images
According to a statement from Dutch broadcaster Avrotros, which is behind its country’s Eurovision choices, “Against clearly made agreements, Joost was filmed when he had just gotten off stage and had to rush to the green room. At that moment, Joost repeatedly indicated that he did not want to be filmed. This wasn’t respected.”
“This led to a threatening movement from Joost towards the camera. Joost did not touch the camerawoman,” the broadcaster said, characterizing his removal as “very heavy and disproportionate.”
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