Swedish Authorities Close Investigation into Joost Klein's Eurovision Disqualification
Sweden has officially concluded its investigation into Dutch Eurovision contestant Joost Klein, who was disqualified from the 2024 final in Malmö. The Swedish prosecution authority stated that Klein faced disqualification after a camera operator accused him of exhibiting threatening behavior. This incident occurred just hours before he was set to perform his song "Europapa" at the Eurovision final on May 11.
The controversy began when a female member of the production crew alleged that Klein made a threatening movement towards her following his semifinal performance two days earlier. The Dutch broadcaster responsible for Klein's entry, Avrotros, responded by asserting that the singer had been filmed directly after coming off stage contrary to established agreements and despite his repeated requests to avoid being filmed, deeming his disqualification as disproportionate.
On Monday, the Swedish prosecution authority disclosed its findings, indicating that while Klein did make a movement that inadvertently hit the operator's camera, the rapid nature of the incident meant that it could be interpreted in various ways. Senior prosecutor Fredrik Jönsson stated, "Today I have closed the investigation because I cannot prove that the act was capable of causing serious fear or that the man had any such intention."
The 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest was further complicated by widespread pro-Palestine protests at the Malmö Arena. Many attendees criticized the organizers for permitting Israel's participation amid ongoing military conflicts with Gaza. During a tense press conference post-semifinal, several artists, including Klein, expressed their frustration that the debate over Israel's inclusion was overshadowing the competition.
In a twist of fate, Switzerland's Nemo ultimately won the contest with the song "The Code," marking a historic moment as the first artist identifying as non-binary to claim victory in the prestigious competition.
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