In recent weeks, significant events have transpired behind the scenes at AVROTROS following the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
This afternoon, AVROTROS published an update about the ungoing situations and the investigation into the incident after Joost Klein’s performance in the Second Semi-Final of Eurovision 2024 in Malmö.
The last statement regarding Joost Klein’s participation and the incident was made by the EBU on the 14th of May, days after the Grand Final:
EBU Releases Updated Statement Regarding Joost Klein’s Disqualification
The statement from today is divided in three sections. The disqualification of Joost Klein, the investigations into the structure of the EBU and the future.
Disqualification of Joost Klein
The AVROTROS states:
“The investigation into the incident after Joost Klein’s performance in the 2nd semi-final is still pending at the Swedish Public Prosecution Service. During this investigation, we unfortunately cannot go into the details, the circumstances, and the handling of this incident because this could influence the investigation.”
They continue repeating what the broacaster also said just after the news of the disqualification broke on the day of the Grand Final in Malmö.
“We can say that based on the information we had then and have now, we still believe that the disqualification was unnecessary and disproportionate.”
EBU investigation
About the internal investigations into and by the EBU, AVROTROS says:
“AVROTROS, like other participating countries, has received a request from the EBU to cooperate in an investigation. We have decided to cooperate with this, with the necessary caveats. AVROTROS believes that a broader, more in-depth, and truly independent investigation is needed to address structural problems.”
Followed by:
“Not only organization in Malmö and the EBU, but also the role and mandate of the Reference Group (the committee of delegated participating countries), the rules/procedures and appeal possibilities in the event of complaints, and the increased pressure on the artists and delegations in the run-up to and during the Song Contest should be the subject of investigation by a recognized and independent research agency.”.
Future
Finally, the Dutch broadcaster comment on the future of their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest as follows:
“The Eurovision Song Contest was created to connect countries and peoples through music and to encourage mutual brotherhood. This should be the starting point for the organizers and all participating countries. Until AVROTROS is confident that structural adjustments will be made to the artists and their musical message back in the center, we will keep participation in the Song Contest under consideration.”
With the statement, there is a possibility The Netherlands will not compete at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Switzerland. The Netherlands has practically always participated in the Eurovision Song Contest. Only four times the Netherlands was not present: in 1985, 1991, 1995 and 2002.
Joost Klein represented The Netherland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö. He was disqualified for the final, because of an incident after the Second Semi-Final. Joost Klein qualified for the Grand Final by coming second in his Semi, with 182 points.
Source: AVROTROS / Image source: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett