2024-05-11 14:47:59
It is not known why Joost Klein was excluded from the second rehearsal. The EBU speaks of ongoing investigations. Now the police have gotten involved.
Dutch Eurovision candidate Joost Klein has also been excluded from the second round of rehearsals for the final. The reason is the further investigation into an incident with the musician. What this was about was not initially disclosed.
The Swedish police have now also started investigations. A police spokeswoman told the German Press Agency that a man was accused of making threats against an employee of the Malmö Arena venue.
“Further investigative measures taken”
The spokeswoman did not want to confirm a report by the Swedish newspaper “Aftonbladet” that the suspected perpetrator was the Dutch participant Joost Klein. “I can only say this much: we have never had a case like this before.” She contradicted rumors that the alleged victim herself was taking part in the ESC.
The alleged act is said to have taken place on Thursday evening and was reported on Friday, it said. “We have interviewed witnesses and taken further investigative measures,” said the police spokeswoman.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has decided that the singer will not perform during the second dress rehearsal of the competition, which will be voted on by the juries of the 37 participating countries, “while the investigation is ongoing,” the EBU said. According to the jury, his performance will be evaluated based on his performance in the second semi-final on Thursday.
According to the ESC rules, the jury vote always takes place at the second dress rehearsal. A jury consists of five experts per country. All 37 participating countries are entitled to vote – including countries that were eliminated in the semi-finals. At the ESC, the jury’s decisions usually make up 50 percent of the final result of each entry. The other 50 percent comes from the telephone votes at the finale. You cannot vote for your own country in either the semi-finals or the final.
It is not yet clear what will happen next for Joost Klein
“The investigation into the incident involving the Dutch artist at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest is ongoing. Discussions are also taking place between the EBU and Avrotros, the participating Dutch television station,” the EBU said.
It was previously announced that the artist would not take part in rehearsals for the final until further notice due to an incident. Joost Klein appeared at the first rehearsal of the final and was present at the flag parade, but he did not rehearse his song “Europapa”.