Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is on the verge of disruption due to the disqualification of the Netherlands: what did Jost Klein do and why did other participants take his side

The European broadcaster officially disqualified the Dutch representative from the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 8 hours before the final. The participant Joost Klein , who had every chance of making it to the top 10, was suspended due to a violent incident that occurred after the second semifinal on May 9. According to media reports, the performer threatened an unnamed woman who worked on the show, so the Malmö police are now investigating.

This news came as a shock not only to Euro fans but also to the artist's competitors. According to reports online, the Estonian participants MIINUST x Puuluup and some other contestants, who have not been named, are considering boycotting the final because of Jost Klein's disqualification.

What is the representative of the Netherlands accused of

The day before, rumors began to spread online that the artist had scandalized a participant from Israel, Eden Golan, so he was allegedly not allowed to participate in the show, which was judged by a professional jury from all countries. The Dutch flag was taken down backstage, and suitcases were seen packed near the dressing room.

The artist didn't perform on May 10, so the jury evaluated his show in the second semifinal. Meanwhile, the hosts mentioned that 25 out of 26 countries would take part in the final. This information was recently confirmed by a European broadcaster.

"The Swedish police are investigating a complaint filed by a member of the crew following an incident that occurred after his performance in the Eurovision semi-final on Thursday night. While the legal process is ongoing, it would be inappropriate for him to continue participating in the contest," the EBU website said.

The official explanation also assured that the delegation from Israel had nothing to do with the case.

How people reacted to the news

Even before the official statement, the Estonian band MIINUST x Puuluup commented: "Jost Klein is a very close friend of ours. We don't know what's going on yet. We wanted to leave him alone for a while and haven't called him yet. It's too early to make that statement, but if he's not on the show tonight, we might cancel to support him."

The big words were quickly taken back when the contestant from the Netherlands was disqualified. The following statement appeared on the Estonian broadcaster's page: "The words of our artists are arbitrarily interpreted in the media and social media. 5MIINUST and Puuluup are preparing for the final rehearsal and will go on stage as planned."

Meanwhile, the Netherlands expressed their indignation: "We have taken note of the disqualification by the EBU. We consider the disqualification unacceptable and are shocked by this decision. We are very sorry and will return to this later."

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