Eurovision 2024: Dutch participant Joost Klein will not rehearse “until further notice” due to “incident” | Ents & Arts News

The Dutch track “Europapa” is one of the show’s most memorable and was described by one critic as “so bad” that it will “put off music forever.”

Dutch Eurovision contestant Joost Klein is being investigated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) over an unexplained “incident” – and will no longer rehearse until “further notice”.

The 26-year-old Dutch singer missed his spot at the show’s penultimate dress rehearsal in Malmö, Sweden, on Friday, where he was scheduled to perform his fifth-place track “Europape.” Israel’s Eden Golan20, with their song Hurricane.

It is not yet clear whether Klein will appear Eurovision The grand finale of the song contest takes place on Saturday.

The EBU said in a statement: “We are currently investigating an incident reported to us involving the Dutch artist. He will not rehearse until further notice.”

“We have no further comment at this time and will update in due course.”

Klein was part of the flag parade at the beginning of the rehearsal and walked across the stage in full costume, but did not come on stage for his performance about 30 minutes later.

He spoke at a press conference on Thursday evening at which the ten players selected for the final from the second semi-final came together, including Israel and the Netherlands.

Around 26 countries, including British participant Olly Alexander, 33, with his song “Dizzy” and Irishman Bambie Thug, 31, with the song “Doomsday Blue”, will compete for the coveted Eurovision glass trophy on Saturday.

A clip of Klein’s offering – “Europapa” in happy hardcore style – was played in the recap clips of all 26 songs during the rehearsal show, but with a clip from an earlier Klein rehearsal.

The track, which is one of the show’s most memorable and was described by one critic as “so bad” it will cause “a break from music forever”, is one of the current favorites to win.

Towards the end of the press conference, Golan was asked by Polish radio station Newsletter whether she thought that by taking part in the event she posed a safety risk to other participants.

The conference’s moderator, Swedish moderator Jovan Radomir, told Golan she didn’t have to answer the question if she didn’t want to.

Klein shouted loudly, “Why not?”

Golan responded to the question by saying, “I think we are all here for one reason and one reason only. And the EBU is taking all safety precautions to make this a safe and united place for everyone. And I believe that too.” Certainly for everyone, otherwise we wouldn’t be here.

Her answer was met with applause.

At the start of the session, Klein was asked by an audience member, “Do you think your song can unite us all through music?”

He quickly replied: “That’s a good question for the EBU.”

Golan’s song “Hurricane” was reworked from an earlier track called “October Rain”, which is believed to be a reference to the song “Hurricane” by Golan October 7 Hamas attacks At Israel.

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At the start of the press conference, Klein also had what looked like a Dutch flag wrapped completely around his head and sat like that for a while before the questions began.

Sky News has emailed Klein’s representatives for comment on his absence from the dress rehearsal.

Further pro-Palestinian protests are planned in Malmö to coincide with the grand finale of the Eurovision Song Contest War between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Tight security measures in Malmö amid protests

There is a high level of security in the host city, which is why additional police officers are being recruited from neighboring Denmark and Norway.

There have been demonstrations and calls to boycott the show in recent months after the EBU refused to exclude Israel from the competition on the grounds that the country had not broken any broadcasting rules.

During an earlier rehearsal on Wednesday, Golan was greeted with some boos and chants of “Liberate Palestine,” and a Palestinian flag appeared to have been taken from an audience member in the auditorium.

On Friday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the protests against Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest “wrong,” adding: “The scenes we saw here (in Malmö) were outrageous.”

Police estimated the number at 10,000 to 12,000 people took part in a march on Thursday, which began in Stortorget Square near Malmö’s 16th-century town hall before moving through the city to a rally in a park several miles from the Eurovision venue, the Malmö Arena.

During the march, which included families with young children as well as people with dogs and bicycles, smoke canisters in the colors of the Palestinian flag were ignited and some demonstrators carried signs with images of Gazan civilians injured in the Hamas-Israel conflict became conflict.

There was also a Eurovision-style banner with the words “genocide” written on it – an accusation Israel has strenuously denied in the fight against Israel Hamas.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was among those present.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent his support to the Golan Islands, telling them in a video message: “When they boo you, we cheer you.”

:: Sky News will be in Malmö with updates, a live blog and key news from Saturday’s final.