Breaking news coming to us as of noon today: it has been decided that Joost Klein, previously representating the Netherlands with his song “Europapa” in Eurovision 2024 – will no longer participate in this year’s contest.
The EBU has released a statement regarding his participation after a day of investigation and deliberation into an incident involving a member of the production crew. The decision comes as a blow to fans and organizers alike, marking the first time in recent memory that a participating country has pulled out of the beloved music competition a day before the Grand Final.
The organizers are empashizing that the incident had nothing to do with members of a different delegation despite the widespread speculation, and that they maintain a zero tolerance policy towards inappropriate behavior.
Members of the press and the fans have anxiously waited the resolution of the conflict and an explanation into what had occured the day before.
The Netherlands was considered a strong contender in this year’s competition, having achieved considerable success in recent years, including winning the contest in 2019 with Duncan Laurence’s emotive ballad, “Arcade.”
As speculation swirls regarding the nature of the incident and its potential impact on future Eurovision events, all eyes are now on the remaining 25 participating countries as they prepare to take the stage in Malmö, Sweden, for the 2024 edition of the contest.
What do #YOU think about the turn of events this year? Let us know on social media @ESCUnited or on our forum page!
