Serious allegations were made against Måns Zelmerlöw regarding drug use and violence by his former partner. Now, the investigation against him is closed. What was at the center of the storm?
Måns Zelmerlöw found himself at the heart of controversy in recent months, as his former partner Ciara Janson accused him of serious offenses, such as drug use and violence against her. Despite the severe allegations, today (Tuesday) the case against the Eurovision 2015 winner was closed.
“The prosecutor and the police examined every detail, and it was determined that there is no criminal offense involved”.
Stated Zelmerlöw’s attorney, Hanna Lindblom.
Behind the Scenes of Sweden’s National Eurovision Selection
“It was very predictable, […] He is not surprised, but at the same time very excited that there is finally an end to all this”.
Lindblom added after the case closed.
Zelmerlöw, 39, was a prominent contender to win the final of Melodifestivalen, and even for victory at Eurovision 2025 itself. However, there was considerable concern behind the scenes. According to an investigation by Aftonbladet, senior figures at Sweden’s national broadcaster, SVT, were aware that Zelmerlöw struggled with drug addiction and knew about the accusations of violence.
Production sources reported that throughout the performance rounds there was talk about his drug problem, which everyone knew about. According to the testimonies, he used drugs during the competition itself and even consumed cocaine at the final party held in March. Those close to him said he spoke openly about it. Zelmerlöw later addressed his cocaine addiction publicly, claiming he had stopped use several months earlier. However, new testimonies indicate that the drug use continued during the competition.
The report stated that Melodifestivalen officials were also aware of severe accusations against Zelmerlöw, including claims he pushed Janson against a wall in a hotel corridor – an incident that took place a few days before the final. Nevertheless, no action was taken against him and he was permitted to compete in the final.
A week after the competition ended, Janson posted on social media alleging Zelmerlöw behaved violently during their relationship. Zelmerlöw strongly denied the allegations, writing:
“I have never harmed or threatened my children or my ex-wife. These claims are not true”.
His attorney also rejected all allegations.
Responding to the claims, Melodifestivalen project manager Anders Wistbacka said he was not aware of any information that required his intervention. “No reports were delivered to me that required action”, he stated, clarifying that there is a zero-tolerance policy regarding drugs and alcohol at the competition venue.
Regarding official parties after the competition, Wistbacka pointed out that these are not produced by the national broadcaster but by the production company Live Nation, and that artist participation is not mandatory.
Måns Zelmerlöw – Who Are You?
Måns Zelmerlöw is a Swedish singer who represented Sweden at Eurovision 2015, making history by bringing his country its sixth victory with the song “Heroes” and an unforgettable performance. Since then, he hosted Eurovision 2016 in Stockholm, appeared at various subsequent Eurovision contests, and participated in performances dedicated to the competition. Måns returned for the fourth time to Sweden’s national preselection, Melodifestivalen 2025, with his song “Revolution,” aiming to secure Sweden’s eighth win, but ultimately finished second in the preselection.
Sweden at Eurovision 2025:
“Bara bada bastu” (in English: “Just take a sauna”) is the title of the song which was performed by band KAJ, who represented Sweden in Eurovision 2025, in Basel, Switzerland – Placing 4th with 321 points. The song was written by the band members – Kevin Holmström, Axel Åhman, and Jakob Norrgård – along with Anderz Wrethov, Kristoffer Strandberg, and Robert Skowronski.
The song led the betting predictions throughout the competition, reaching a peak of 49% winning probability, but ultimately finished in fourth place with 321 points – 126 points from the juries, ranked sixth, and 195 more points from the public, ranked third.
Eurovision 2025: This was Sweden’s 64th appearance in the competition. Sweden joined Eurovision in 1958 and has won the contest seven times over the years. The country’s most recent victory came in 2023, when Loreen won with the song “Tattoo”.
