EPAThe Dutch singer Joost Klein, who was disqualified from the 2024 Eurovision Track Contest, is not going to be prosecuted over the “backstage incident” that led to his dismissal, Swedish authorities have stated.
Klein was banned from the grand last hours earlier than it happened in Malmö on 11 Might, after a feminine digicam operator accused him of “threatening” behaviour.
Nonetheless, on Monday, the Swedish prosecution authority stated it couldn’t show that Klein “had any such intention”.
Senior prosecutor Fredrik Jönssom stated the singer had made “a motion that hit the lady’s movie digicam” however that the course of occasions “was quick and was perceived otherwise by the witness of the incident”.
“At the moment I’ve closed the investigation as a result of I can’t show that the act was able to inflicting critical concern,” he added.
The singer’s administration stated they had been “extraordinarily glad and relieved” that the case had been deserted.
“The previous few months have been terribly tough,” they stated in an announcement.
“Lastly we are able to say it out loud: There was by no means a cause for this case.”
The musician’s response was extra light-hearted: He posted a compilation of glad canine movies to his Instagram story and up to date his biography to learn “Eurovision 2025”.
Klein had been one of many favourites to win the 2024 contest with techno anthem, Europapa.
The tune was devoted to his father, who died of most cancers when Klein was 12. Earlier than he died, Klein had promised to enter Eurovision on his behalf.
Nonetheless, the singer’s plan fell aside when he was suspended throughout costume rehearsals the day earlier than the grand last.
A day later, Swedish police confirmed {that a} man had been reported for making “illegal threats” to a member of the digicam crew, and Klein was disqualified.
‘Pointless and disproportionate’
Dutch broadcaster Avrotros, which is liable for arranging the nation’s Eurovision entry, referred to as the transfer “disproportionate”.
It stated that Klein had been filmed instantly after coming off stage “towards clearly made agreements” and towards his repeated indications that he didn’t wish to be on digicam.
Responding to the Swedish prosecutor’s choice to drop the case, the broadcaster stated it will name a gathering with contest organisers the EBU to precise its dissatisfaction.
“From the start, we’ve got stated that this disqualification was pointless and disproportionate and so it now seems to be.
“We’re nonetheless deeply disillusioned that the Europa journey of Joost Klein and of the whole Netherlands was brutally ended on this method.
“The subsequent step is to have a gathering with the EBU administration about this matter at very quick discover.”
Nonetheless, the EBU defended its unique choice to expel Klein from the competition for “inappropriate behaviour”.
“Like all accountable employers, we don’t tolerate inappropriate behaviour and can all the time reply to any office points which might be reported to us,” it stated in an announcement.
Noting that the competition’s inner investigation was separate to the police inquiry, it added: “This new improvement due to this fact doesn’t have any impression on our choice, which we stand by fully.”
EPAKlein’s disqualification was not the one supply of controversy at this yr’s contest.
Israel’s participation was broadly criticised amid the continued Israel-Gaza conflict, with a number of pro-Palestinian protests happening round Malmö Area.
Italy’s Angelina Mango and Eire’s Bambie Thug had been amongst contestants who complained of a “tense” and “horrible” ambiance backstage.
Different entrants accused the Israeli delegation of filming them and posting clips on-line with out their permission.
Avrotros stated it will elevate “different objections concerning the course of occasions behind the scenes” throughout its assembly with the EBU.
It famous that these complaints had beforehand been raised “in a complete letter of objection, which thus far has remained unanswered”.
“The ball is now within the EBU’s courtroom,” it concluded.
