Despite more questions than answers about the reasons behind the decision, Friesland’s Joost Klein has been disqualified from participating in tonight’s Eurovision final.
In a statement, the EBU said Swedish police have investigated a complaint from a member of their production team “after an incident following his performance in Thursday night’s Semi Final.”
“While the legal process takes its course, it would not be appropriate for him to continue in the Contest. We would like to make it clear that, contrary to some media reports and social media speculation, this incident did not involve any other performer or delegation member”, the EBU said.
Although investigations are still ongoing, the EBU reached the conclusion that Klein’s behaviour “is deemed in breach of Contest rules.”
The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, that is handling this year’s Dutch entry, described the EBU’s decision as “disproportionate”. The broadcaster said it “is shocked by the decision”.
Klein was among the favourites to win this year’s festival. He also made headlines when during a press conference he urged the singer representing Israel to answer a journalist’s question about if she thought about how her being there could endanger other artists and the audience because of the many protests highlighting the killing of innocent people in Palestine.
Dutch celebrations at Leeuwarden’s Oldehoofsterkerkhof are set to go on regardless of the incident.
Photo: Corinne Cumming/EBU
