Confusion over the fate of the Dutch Eurovision star

The Dutch Eurovision contestant will not perform at Friday night’s dress rehearsal while organizers investigate an incident backstage.

According to Swedish broadcaster SVT, which runs the competition, Joost Klein was allegedly involved in an altercation.

The dress rehearsal will be observed by juries across Europe to determine their results for the grand finale.

Instead, the judges will be shown a recorded performance from earlier in the week.

Klein’s song Europapa is considered one of the top candidates in this year’s competition.

It is dedicated to his parents, who died when he was a child. The artist had promised them that one day he would take part in the Eurovision Song Contest.

His suspension became clear on Friday afternoon during the first dress rehearsal for Saturday’s grand finale.

Klein’s props were being set up on the stage at the Malmö Arena when a production manager ordered them to be removed.

His song was then skipped without explanation and Israeli contestant Eden Golan, who was next in the starting order, took his place.

The EBU, which organizes the competition, later issued a statement saying it was investigating “an incident reported to us involving the Dutch artist.”

The statement was updated shortly after 8:30pm CET (7:30pm BST), half an hour before jury rehearsal begins.

“The investigation into the incident involving the Dutch artist at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest is still ongoing,” it said.

“Discussions are also taking place between the EBU and AVROTROS, the Dutch participating broadcaster.

“While the investigation is ongoing, the EBU has decided that Joost Klein will not appear at dress rehearsal 2 of the competition, which will be voted on by juries in the 37 participating countries.

“Instead, his performance from Semi-Final 2 will be used.”

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

The televised public final will take place on Saturday.

Initial speculation suggested that Klein’s suspension was the result of an alleged altercation with the Israeli delegation.

The country’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest caused controversy amid rising civilian deaths and a worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, and protests broke out in the Swedish host city.

At a Eurovision press conference on Thursday, Golan was asked if she had “ever thought that by her presence she was posing a risk and danger to other participants and the public?”

When the Israeli singer was told by the moderator that she didn’t have to answer the question, Klein chimed in: “Why not?”

Golan replied: “I think we are all here for one reason and one reason only and the EBU is taking all the security precautions to make this a safe and united place for everyone and that is why I think it is for everyone is safe, and that’s what we would do. “I won’t be here (if not).”

When Klein was previously asked if his song could live up to the Eurovision slogan and unite people through music, he replied: “I think that’s a good question for the EBU.”