“An incident occurred after last Thursday’s performance. Against clear agreements, Joost was filmed when he had just gotten off stage and had to rush to the green room,” writes AVROTROS.
“At that moment Joost repeatedly indicated that he did not want to be filmed. This was not heeded. This led to a threatening movement from Joost towards the camera. Joost did not touch the camera woman.”
There has been no further contact with the camerawoman involved, AVROTROS director Taco Zimmerman said. “She has refused any contact. With us and with Joost.”
According to Zimmerman, Klein is “incredibly sad. It is in sackcloth and ashes.”
For the first time
Of EBU announced earlier on Saturday afternoon that Klein is disqualified. The woman has filed a complaint. “It would not be appropriate now to allow Joost to participate,” said EBU.
AVROTROS calls the disqualification of Joost Klein for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest “disproportionate” and “is shocked.”
It is the first time in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest that a candidate has been disqualified during the event. Klein would compete fifth in the final with his Europapa.
‘Big disappointment’
EBU emphasizes that it has a “zero tolerance policy” when it comes to inappropriate behavior. “We want a safe working environment for everyone around the festival,” the organization said. “Joost’s behavior is contrary to our rules. That is why there are now only 25 candidates in the final.”
EBU adds that “contrary to what some (social) media reported, this was not an incident involving an artist or a member of a delegation.”
Also read: Eurovision fan Fred Helm almost in tears over disqualification. ‘Joost may have been misunderstood’
The NPO calls the EBU’s decision to disqualify Joost Klein “very drastic” and a “major disappointment.” A spokesperson for NPO boss Frederieke Leeflang said this.
Rumors
Cornald Maas, who is a member of the Dutch selection committee, states on X that the incident for which Joost Klein has been disqualified is hardly significant. The Eurovision expert also emphasizes that the incident “has nothing at all to do with Israel or the Israeli delegation.”
These rumors spread on social media. Israel’s presence at the Eurovision Song Contest has been leading to protests and unrest in Malmö for days. Maas calls the whole situation “hell for connector Joost Klein & his team.”
Hij stelt in het Engels nog: „long live the future of Eurovision – not. With this @EBU_HQ anything can happen in the future.”
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AVROTROS found the disqualification of Joost Klein from the final of the Eurovision Song Contest to be “disproportionate”. It is unclear what the broadcaster will do now. “We will come back to the content of this later,” the broadcaster said.
Indictment
It was previously announced that the Swedish police are investigating a complaint filed against singer Joost Klein due to an alleged threat. The police in Sweden reported this to the ANP on Saturday. The incident is said to have occurred on Thursday evening in the Malmö Arena. The complainant is an employee of the Eurovision Song Contest.
The police interviewed Klein, the complainant and a number of witnesses. The investigation was referred to the Public Prosecution Service on Saturday. It will now look into the matter.
The EBU, which organizes the Eurovision Song Contest, announced that it is investigating the “incident”, as the organization describes it. Klein was not allowed to participate in the dress rehearsal for the final on Friday evening.
NPO boss Frederieke Leeflang is now in Malmö. Her visit had already been planned before the Klein affair emerged. But she does have an emergency meeting with EBU and AVROTROS on Saturday morning. A spokesperson for the NPO cannot say what the exact purpose of the conversation is.
Transferred
The Public Prosecution Service in Sweden confirms that the case surrounding Joost Klein has been transferred by the police. A spokesperson could not say whether this is now with a public prosecutor or not.
“The police say they have handed over the case to the prosecution authority, but I don’t know to whom,” the spokesperson said. She points out that a prosecutor is present outside office hours and on weekends for cases where suspects have been arrested. The Dutch participant in the Eurovision Song Contest has not been arrested.
It is therefore currently unclear what the course of the investigation will look like. It appears that the case will be settled on Monday, but the spokesperson does not rule out that the Public Prosecution Service will issue a statement about Klein this weekend. This will then be shared via the Public Prosecution Service website, the spokesperson says.
