2024-08-13 06:38:42
Dutch participant Joost Klein was excluded from the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 due to a complaint. Now the case is taking a new turn.
Joost Klein was considered one of the favorites to win this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. He had confidently qualified for the final after the second semi-final. The 26-year-old has many fans, especially in Germany, as he worked on the number one hit “Friesenjung” in 2023 alongside Otto Waalkes and rapper Ski Aggu.
But just a few hours before the final of the music competition, the Dutch participant was disqualified. According to reports, Joost Klein behaved inappropriately towards a woman from the production. After the alleged victim filed a complaint, witnesses were questioned and an investigation was initiated – this has now been discontinued.
The Swedish public prosecutor’s office announced on Monday that the investigation had been completed: “The investigation has shown that the man made a movement that hit the woman’s film camera. The sequence of events was quick and was perceived differently by those who witnessed the incident,” the report said. According to Chief Public Prosecutor Fredrik Jönsson, it could therefore not be proven “that the act could have caused serious fear or that the man had such an intention.”
The trial was originally planned for the beginning of June. But Joost Klein requested that new witness interviews be conducted, which is why a verdict was only reached now. The Dutch artist’s lawyers had already expected this result shortly after the complaint was filed: “I think the chances of an acquittal are good,” said lawyer Jan-Åke Fält in May.
Joost Klein has not yet commented personally on the acquittal. However, he published a video in his Instagram story in which several dancing dogs can be seen. The 26-year-old has been hinting for several weeks that he wants to try again at the ESC next year. However, an official confirmation is still pending.