Independent

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has ordered an independent investigation into its own organisation, following complaints about an unsafe atmosphere at the last edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden. Sources reported this to RTL Boulevard and AD.

The independent investigation would consist of (anonymously) questioning participating Eurovision delegations.

The Netherlands made an official report of an unsafe atmosphere in the Malmö Arena. AVROTROS confirmed to NU.nl that there was an unsafe atmosphere in the so-called delegation bubble in particular.

The Netherlands was not the only one to speak out: artists from Lithuania, Switzerland, Portugal, Ireland and Norway, among others, were critical of the atmosphere behind the scenes, which was described as tense. Norway’s entry, the band Gate, told the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten that they had considered withdrawing until shortly before the final.

The EBU previously responded to the angry reactions in an official statement. The organisation mainly blamed the participating countries themselves. “We find it very unfortunate that some delegations did not adhere to the rules during the event and during broadcasts. We have spoken to various delegations about incidents that have come to our attention. The EBU will continue to talk to the chairs of the delegations and will conduct an evaluation of this Song Festival”, the statement read. Now the organization is having itself investigated after all.

Joost Klein is the first artist in the history of the Song Festival to be excluded from participation while the festival was already underway. The artist is said to have made a threatening gesture towards a camerawoman. The Justice Department is currently investigating the incident.

AVROTROS, the broadcaster that covers the Song Festival for the Netherlands, has announced that it will respond to the investigation at a later date.