Eurovision fans were shocked on Friday when Dutch contender Joost Klein was axed from the contest, just one day before the grand final.
Entering with the song Europapa, a tribute to his late parents, the 26-year-old rapper and singer had qualified for the live final on Thursday evening at the Malmo Arena venue in Sweden.
Joost was later informed he would no longer be allowed to compete after being quizzed by police over an incident involving ‘a female member of the production crew’.
His participation was already in doubt after he failed to perform at two dress rehearsals early on Friday, before it was officially announced he was out of the show.
So why was Joost Klein axed from the competition and what as the reaction been since?
Eurovision fans were shocked on Friday when Dutch contender Joost Klein was axed from the contest, just one day before the grand final
Why was he axed?
Swedish police announced on Friday it was investigating Joost following a complaint made by ‘a female member of the production crew’ over an incident after his semi-final performance.
This latest development plunged the show into further chaos, with organisers already on high alert for the final, having erected a huge ring of steel barriers around the competition venue in preparation for a planned protest.
There was also a heavy police presence as thousands of pro-Palestine protesters are set to descend on the Swedish city of Malmo, Sweden, where the final took place, to reiterate calls to ban Israeli singer Eden Golan from competing.
Golan has become a lightning rod for criticism from protesters who have demanded she be excluded from the competition, while others have called for a boycott of the famous song contest and a ceasefire in the seven-month war in Gaza.
The 20-year-old contestant has also been preparing for a fiery reception herself as she was filmed rehearsing her power ballad Hurricane while other members of her team try to throw her off with loud boos and pro-Palestinian chants.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced on Saturday that Klein would no longer be competing just hours before the final is set to take place.
A statement from the EBU said: ‘The Dutch artist Joost Klein will not be competing in the Grand Final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
Entering with the song Europapa, a tribute to his late parents, the 26-year-old rapper and singer had qualified for the live final on Thursday evening at the Malmo Arena venue in Sweden
‘Swedish police have investigated a complaint made by a female member of the production crew 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.
‘We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards inappropriate behaviour at our event and are committed to providing a safe and secure working environment for all staff at the Contest.
‘In light of this, Joost Klein’s behaviour towards a team member is deemed in breach of Contest rules.
‘The Grand Final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest will now proceed with 25 participating songs.’
Dutch broadcaster Avrotros has said that it found Klein’s disqualification from the contest ‘disproportionate’.
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, the Netherlands’ delegation’s official page Songfestival said: ‘We have taken note of the disqualification by the EBU. @AVROTROS finds the disqualification disproportionate and is shocked by the decision. We deeply regret this and will come back to this later.’
Joost Klein was disqualified following an alleged incident involving a camera operator backstage
His time in the competition
The Dutch singer was one of the bookies’ favourites to win the contest with his playful pop-rap song Europapa which mixes tunes of pop with happy hardcore and was described by one critic as being ‘so bad’ it will ‘put you off music forever’.
But the incident dashed his chances of winning the contest after he reportedly disagreed with a camera operator over an incident backstage.
Klein, who lost his parents at a young age, said the song is about an orphan who travels around Europe trying to find himself, as his father taught him to believe in a Europe without borders.
Klein failed to perform at dress rehearsals on Friday after the incident on Thursday; Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS has hit out at the ‘disproportionate’ actions of the EBU, which said it would be ‘inappropriate’ for the performer to compete.
Klein had already courted controversy after clashing with Israel entrant Eden Golan, whose song Hurricane had to be rewritten and renamed after it appeared to allude to the October 7 attacks by Hamas.
On Thursday, as Golan was told she did not have to answer a question on whether she felt her presence presented a risk to other Eurovision performers, Klein snapped ‘Why not?’ and covered his head as she spoke.
Golan replied: ‘I think we’re all here for one reason, and one reason only. The EBU is taking all safety precautions to make this a safe and united place for everyone.
‘So I think it’s safe for everyone or we wouldn’t be here.’
The singer clashed with Israel’s Eden Golan (right) during a press conference on Thursday after she was asked a question about the safety of other performers
The Dutch singer was one of the bookies’ favourites to win the contest with his playful pop-rap song Europapa which mixes tunes of pop with happy hardcore and was described by one critic as being ‘so bad’ it will ‘put you off music forever’
What has the reaction been since?
More than 175,000 fans have signed a petition calling for the rapper to be reinstated in the contest – but its organiser has admitted defeat, writing online: ‘Sadly we didn’t get the EBU’s attention, but we will always show love for Joost.’
Fans continue to show their support for the contestant, with some claiming he is ‘the real winner’ – despite Switzerland’s Nemo receiving the trophy during Saturday’s final.
One wrote on social media platform X: ‘We support you’;
‘Thank you Joost, for bringing Europe together. Shame on you EBU!’;
‘I feel so sad for him’;
‘Joost you will be known as the winner of Eurovision 2024’
A petition demanding that Klein is reinstated in the competition has gathered more than 175,000 signatures
But its author has admitted that the plea has fallen on deaf ears, wring: ‘Sadly we didn’t get the EBU’s attention’
Fans continue to show their support for the contestant, with some claiming he is ‘the real winner’ – despite Switzerland’s Nemo receiving the trophy during Saturday’s final