The Dutchman Joost Klein started at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024

MALMO, Sweden (AP) — A Dutch public broadcaster reacted angrily after the Dutch participant in the Eurovision Song Contest was dramatically suspended from the competition just hours before Saturday’s final due to a behind-the-scenes incident that is being investigated by police.

The European Broadcasting Union, which organizes Eurovisionsaid Swedish police were investigating “a complaint made by a female member of the production team” against Joost Klein and it would not be appropriate for him to take part in the ongoing legal proceedings.

Klein did not perform at two dress rehearsals in the Swedish city of Malmo on Friday, and organizers had said they were investigating an “incident.” Although there were rumors that the incident was related to the Israeli delegation, organizers said that “no other artist or delegation member was involved.”

The EBU said Klein would not receive points from national juries or from Eurovision viewers who help select the winner, and the Netherlands would not appear on the competition’s scoreboard. Dutch viewers can still take part in the competition, as viewers in Eurovision member countries are not allowed to vote for their own country’s performance.

It was unclear whether Klein was still in Malmö on Saturday.

Such a last-minute disqualification is unprecedented in the 68-year history of the Eurovision Song Contest, although countries have boycotted the event and in some cases been expelled – including Russia, which was kicked out after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Dutch broadcaster AVROTOS, one of dozens of public broadcasters co-financing and broadcasting the competition, said it “considers the disqualification to be disproportionate and is shocked by the decision.”

“We deeply regret this and will return to this later,” it said in a statement.

The 26-year-old Dutch singer and rapper was popular with bookmakers and fans alike with his song “Europapa,” an upbeat Euro-techno ode to the continent that is also a tribute to Klein’s late parents child was.

The competition that pits nations against each other for fame in popular music is already fraught with division across the United States Inclusion of Israel. It picked up big protests from Palestinians and their supporters who say Israel should be excluded because of its behavior War against Hamas.