Dutch broadcaster Avrotros has put its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest “under consideration” after its contestant Joost Klein was disqualified during the 2024 competition in Sweden. Eurovision organisers are investigating the singing competition and have appointed an independent expert to look at the events in Malmo, which were mired in controversy, ahead of the contest heading to Switzerland in 2025 after singer Nemo won with The Code. Dutch singer Klein was stopped from participating in the final with the song Europapa by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) over an “incident” where he was alleged to have made verbal threats to a female production worker.
Joost Klein performing Europapa for The Netherlands at the Second Semi-Final of the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden (Alma Bengtsson/PA) “Until Avrotros is confident that structural adjustments will be made to the artists and their musical message back in the centre, we will keep participation in the song contest under consideration.” The broadcaster says it “still (believes) that the disqualification” of Klein “was unnecessary and disproportionate” after Swedish Police Authority investigated the incident. Local police previously said it would be heading to the local prosecutor to bring the case to court.
Avrotros said it will “cooperate” with the EBU’s review but thinks “a broader, more in-depth, and truly independent investigation is needed to address structural prob.
