Dutch contestant excluded from Eurovision Song Contest due to backstage “incident”.

Dutch contestant Joost Klein was expelled from the Eurovision Song Contest just hours before the final on Saturday, May 11, following an incident unrelated to the controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in the Gaza War . “Swedish police have investigated a complaint made by a female member of the production team following an incident following his performance in the semi-finals on Thursday evening,” the European Broadcasting Union said in a statement. “While the legal process takes its course, it would not be appropriate for him to continue to compete.”

Swedish police told Agence France-Presse (AFP) they had questioned a man over alleged “intimidation”. “The crime was committed on Thursday evening in the Malmö Arena,” police spokesman Pelle Vamstad told AFP.

Dutch public broadcaster Avrotros told AFP in an email that it considered the move “disproportionate,” adding that it was “shocked by the decision.” At the press conference after the second semi-final, Klein repeatedly covered his face with a Dutch flag, apparently expressing his disagreement with being placed next to Israeli participant Eden Golan.