by Avi Zaikaner Comment Closed




The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS has decided against legal action following Joost Klein’s controversial disqualification from the Eurovision Song Contest.

A spokesperson for the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS announced that they will not pursue legal action against the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) concerning Joost Klein‘s disqualification. This decision was communicated in response to an open letter published in the Dutch newspaper Volkskrant by lawyer Gerard Spong, who suggested that AVROTROS could file a libel complaint against the EBU.




AVROTROS’s Stance

Joost Klein, the Dutch representative, was disqualified from Eurovision 2024 due to allegations of threatening behavior towards a camerawoman. The incident, which occurred just before the grand finale in Malmö, led to Klein’s abrupt removal from the contest. Despite his disqualification, Swedish prosecutors have since dropped the case, citing insufficient evidence to prove any intent to cause harm.

AVROTROS stated that their aim is not to gain financially or improve their status from this situation. Instead, they wish for Eurovision to be better organized for all participating countries. “We want things to be better arranged,” a spokesperson stated, emphasizing their commitment to improving the Eurovision experience.

AVROTROS has also hinted at reconsidering their participation in the contest if satisfactory changes are not implemented. They have stressed the importance of the contest’s founding principles of unity and brotherhood and are advocating for a more comprehensive review of the event’s management and rules.

The Dutch broadcaster is hopeful that upcoming talks will restore confidence and pave the way for future participation. As the Eurovision community awaits the outcome of these discussions, the focus remains on fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all performers.




Netherlands in Eurovision 2024

“Europapa” is the name of the song performed by Joost Klein in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2024. The Netherlands qualified for the grand final after securing second place in the second semi-final with 182 points. However, the singer was disqualified and did not participate in the grand final due to a violent incident involving him and a camerawoman from the Swedish Eurovision production team.
This marks the second consecutive time that the Netherlands has not competed in the grand final and the first time in the contest’s history that a participant was disqualified just hours before the grand final.

Source: songfestivalpodcast.nl

Eurovision 2024: This was the 64th participation of the Netherlands in Eurovision. The Netherlands joined the competition in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won it five times over the years. The Netherlands’ most recent victory was at Eurovision 2019 with the song “Arcade” performed by singer Duncan Laurence.