Nikkie de Jager.© ANP
MALMÖ
Nikkie de Jager will not be handing out the points on behalf of the Netherlands during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest.
The make-up artist doesn’t think it feels good, she says in a video message that was shown in the preview of the final.
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In addition, the responsible broadcaster AVROTROS has stated that it “does not feel called upon” to hand out the points.
“Now that AVROTROS is no longer part of the final of the Eurovision Song Contest, we do not feel called to hand out live points,” the broadcaster said. “In consultation with Nikkie de Jager, who would act as our spokesperson tonight, we have decided not to do it. Just like Nikkie, we imagined this evening very differently.”
On Instagram, De Jager said that the presentation of the points result would be “a dream” come true. “However, this moment should not distract from the goal: announcing the points. Whatever I decide to do tonight, show up, make a statement, not show up, say nothing, I don’t think I will be able to choose the right thing to do,” De Jager wrote.
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The YouTuber and make-up artist, like many others, did not expect this evening to turn out this way. “Let’s hope that music will actually unite us all in the future.”
Earlier this evening, presenter Sipke Jan Bousema said in a special broadcast of Op1 that when handing out the points for the Netherlands, there would be “a joke” to all the commotion surrounding Joost Klein. Bousema is one of the organizers of the Europaparty in Leeuwarden, where De Jager announces the points. “She’s going to do something. She is going to shout something,” Bousema said in the program.
Petition for Joost Klein
More than 238,000 people signed it on Saturday around 9 p.m the online petition to allow Joost Klein to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest again. The action was started on Saturday afternoon after it was announced that the Dutchman had been disqualified. The first 10,000 signatures were quickly received.
“We may not get Joost back, but by signing this we show that we support Joost,” is the description of the petition. It is not clear who is behind the petition and what is done with the signatures.
Audience sings Europapa before the start of the Eurovision Song Contest final
Part of the audience attending the final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö on Saturday appears to disagree with the decision of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to disqualify Joost Klein.
Just before the start of the show, Klein’s entry Europapa was sung loudly. The title was also shouted out loud.
Singer Käärijä withdraws as a points giver in Finland
Finnish singer Käärijä will no longer be the points giver on behalf of Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday. The number two of the previous Eurovision Song Contest has withdrawn.
“I have decided to no longer give the points of the Finnish jury. It doesn’t feel good anymore,” Käärijä wrote in a short statement on Instagram.
The Finn is good friends with Joost Klein, who was disqualified on Saturday.
Govaert and Maas considered not commenting
Jacqueline Govaert is disappointed that Joost Klein will not be allowed to participate in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday. The singer, who can be heard commentating on the event for the first time this year, speaks of a “big disappointment.”
According to her colleague Cornald Maas, after Klein’s disqualification they discussed for a “long time” whether they would provide the commentary. “We’ll see,” Maas said in the broadcast on NPO 1.
Earlier in the preview, the commentator said that they were going to do their best to stay “in good spirits”. Maas is wearing a Europapa tie for the occasion.
Israeli participant booed
Israeli singer Eden Golan was also booed during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday evening. Whistling and loud booing could be clearly heard from the press center. This was less noticeable in the broadcast, because there was a tape playing with applause.
There was a strong reaction, especially at the beginning of the song and at the end when Golan sings a piece in Hebrew.
Floor manager booed again
Before the final of the Eurovision Song Contest, the audience was again restless. There were boos as the floor manager addressed the crowd, seen in videos on social media.
“I don’t recognize this at all and I have been doing the Eurovision Song Contest for a long time,” said Henric von Zweigbergk after he was booed. “The Eurovision audience is not hateful. I don’t recognize this. It’s like I’m in the crowd at the wrong football club.”
Estonian singer shouts ‘thank you’
The Estonian Eurovision entry may have expressed support for Joost Klein during the final on Saturday. At the end of the act of the groups 5MIINUST and Puuluup, one of the members could be heard shouting ‘thank you’ in Dutch.
The delegation from Estonia sleeps in the same hotel as the Dutch camp.
Intense flute concert for Eurovision Song Contest boss
Martin Österdahl, executive supervisor of the Eurovision Song Contest, was treated to a huge flute concert from the audience on Saturday during the final. There was also a lot of booing.
Most likely, the fans hold him responsible for the disqualification of Joost Klein and the presence of the Israeli singer Eden Golan. On Friday evening, Österdahl was also booed at a dress rehearsal.
