Investigation underway

Dutch ESC participant causes a scandal

Joost Klein with a flag over his head, while Israeli Song Contest participant Eden Golan answers questions from the press.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV, Jessica Gow / TT News Agency / picturedesk.com)

The Dutch Song Contest participant Joost Klein has caused a scandal in Malmö. The European Broadcasting Union announced on Friday that he would not be taking part in the rehearsals until further notice and that "an incident" was being investigated.

Joost Klein was absent this afternoon at the Malmö Arena during what should have been a mandatory rehearsal for the final of the world's biggest music competition. The singer was still present during the flag parade, i.e. the entry of the candidates, but his actual performance was omitted without comment

Was Klein prevented from performing?
The props for the Dutch performance were reportedly already on stage, but were taken away again. It is unclear whether Klein himself left the Eurovision hall or was prevented from performing.

Joost Klein with a flag over his head while Israeli Song Contest participant Eden Golan answers questions from the press.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV, Jessica Gow / TT News Agency / picturedesk.com)

"Investigating incident"
 The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) later announced: "We are currently investigating an incident in connection with the Dutch performance. Klein will not be rehearsing until further notice."

It is unclear what exactly happened. According to reports, the singer wanted to make a statement on stage, but was told off by the EBU. On Twitter, a connection is being made with his scandalous behavior during the press conference after the semi-final.

Joost Klein at the press conference - still without a flag over his head.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Ritzau Scanpix/TT/Jessica Gow)

Flag pulled over his head
Klein had repeatedly pulled a Dutch flag over his head while Israeli participant Eden Golan spoke to the press.

When she was critically questioned by a journalist during the press conference as to whether she did not believe that she was putting the other participants in danger, the moderator tried to mediate and said that she did not have to answer. Klein then pulled the flag off her head and asked: "Why not?" 

According to the Swedish newspaper "Aftonbladet", Klein had already refused to pose for a photo with Eden Golan earlier in the week.

Israel's bid controversial
Israel's entry is highly controversial in Malmö. In the hall, Eden Golan was repeatedly booed by parts of the audience, and numerous protest events against Israel's admission to the competition are planned in Malmö during the ESC week.

These included a demonstration on Thursday with thousands of participants, including "Fridays for Future" icon Greta Thunberg. Another is to follow on the final day.

In the final with "Europapa"
26-year-old Joost Klein was voted into the final on Thursday with his song "Europapa". He was previously considered the favorite to win the 68th Eurovision Song Contest alongside Croatia and, since Thursday, Israel.

"Welcome to Europe, I'll stay here until I die", Klein sings in Dutch and with not entirely clean rhymes. 

Joost Klein

(Bild: Dutch Press Photo Agency / Action Press / picturedesk.com)

Hymn to Europe
The song is a hymn to Europe and his father, who died at an early age. "It's actually a kind of letter to my father," said Klein. "He taught me that people made up the borders and that you can actually invent your own world." His father died when Joost was only twelve years old.

His dance version of the Otto Waalkes hit "Friesenjung" reached number 1 in the singles charts in Germany and Austria.

Austria will be represented at the Song Contest by 29-year-old dancer and singer Kaleen. She was also selected for the final on Thursday with her rousing dance number "We Will Rave".