Claude’s performance in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest was most appreciated by viewers in Greece and Iceland. In both countries, the Dutch singer received six points, good for fifth place.
In total, Claude received 42 points from the viewers for his performance with C’est La Vie. He had hoped for more, the singer said after the Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland.
Fourteen of the 37 countries gave Claude audience points. Claude eventually came twelfth. He owed that largely to the points of the professional juries. He received a total of 133 points from 23 countries.
The juries of Ireland, Poland, Spain and Iceland gave Claude ten points, the second highest score. Source: nu.nl
No rainbow-coloured Pride flags, but encouraging cries with which proud fans of Teddy Scholten waved her goodbye at Schiphol airport in 1959 towards the Eurovision Song Contest in Cannes. And… she won with the catchy song Een Beetje, a composition by Dick Schallies with lyrics by Willy van Hemert. Many readers will still be able to sing along to the chorus: ‘Een beetje, verliefd was je wel meer, meneer, dat weet je! Je hart kwam weleens meer op een ideetje. Dat speet je, maar ach weetje, soms vergeet je wel een beetje gauw je eedje van trouw’.
In 1959, only eleven countries participated, but that number has now tripled. In Basel – in addition to the Netherlands with the song ‘C’est la Vie‘ by Claude – no fewer than 37 countries are participating, including several non-European countries. The condition for participation is not that a country is European, but that it must be a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the festival annually. The final is on Saturday, May 17. Source: Max Magazine
As soon as ‘C’est la vie’ was released, Claude shot up with the bookmakers of the Eurovision Song Contest. Final-worthy. Top three. Or maybe even a win?
Text: Jeroen Keijzer. Image: ANP
Are you looking forward to the Song Contest?
“Yes, a lot. We have a group app with all the participants and there is a friendly atmosphere in it. There is no competition between the artists at all. It is actually very pleasant, everyone texts each other. I am nervous in a way, but I am more looking forward to it than I am nervous. About 160 million people will be watching, it remains the largest stage in Europe. I can handle that pressure well, also because 160 million is such a bizarrely large number that I cannot imagine it. The only thing I can do is prepare myself very well. I do all kinds of exercises with a vocal coach. And I sing ‘C’est la vie’ very often, so that I know exactly how to deliver it.”
Who and what are you taking with you to Switzerland?
“My mother and sisters are coming to the semi-finals, plus some friends. And if I make it to the finals, I’ll bring my backing band. My family will watch the finals at home, because I think that day will be completely chaotic. Will a loved one be coming? No, I don’t have a girlfriend yet; music is my great love. As for stuff: I was at an airport recently and saw all kinds of cuddly toys in a shop. I realised how nice it is to attach a lot of value to something like that, that it becomes a lucky charm. I briefly thought about buying one, but in the end I didn’t. I will bring two photos. One of my family and one of my friends. I’m also going to ask Stien den Hollander – S10, who came eleventh in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022 with ‘De diep’ – if she decorated her hotel room as a living room. Because you live there for about two weeks.” Stien is a good friend of yours. Did she give you any tips? “It’s so nice that Stien has also experienced all this, so that I can talk to her about how she experienced it. We were already friends before the Eurovision Song Contest came my way. One of her first texts to me was even: “Do you know what you should do? Participate in the Eurovision Song Contest! We often have lunch together and then we talk about everything. And now of course a lot about the Eurovision Song Contest. Her most important tip was: let it all wash over you. No one can really tell you what to expect, because it’s such a madhouse. Just go into it relaxed.”
You are participating in ‘C’est la vie’. What is the message you want to convey with the song?
“That sometimes things happen that you can’t control. And that you can get upset by that, but that you have to realize that there are so many other things that are going well. So, get on with it and think: c’est la vie, that’s life. My mother gave me that message. When ‘C’est la vie’ was leaked a day too early, I was really upset about it, because I wanted to determine the time it would be released myself. At a certain point I forced myself to see it in perspective, yes, it’s a shame that it happened, but there are so many other things I can be grateful for. The fact that I’m healthy. That I can breathe, walk, eat and drink. And I also drew strength from the fact that the reactions to the song were positive.” Source: Televizier Magazine.
AVROTROS objects to the decision of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to ban pride flags at the Eurovision Song Contest. According to the broadcaster, the flag is not a political statement.
The broadcaster made the decision after consultation with the interest group COC. Both parties believe that the ban on the rainbow flag sends the wrong message. “Especially in these times, when the human rights of the LGBTQIA+ community are under pressure, it is not a good signal to ban these flags at the Song Contest,” says the COC, which describes the conversation with AVROTROS as “pleasant and constructive”.
The EBU previously determined that participants may only display flags of the country they represent in official places, such as the stage and the Green Room. AVROTROS wants pride flags to fall outside this policy. “We would like to see if we can get something moving. We hope that the EBU is open to that.”
AVROTROS had previously supported the general flag ban, but emphasized that the change of course was not a result of the conversation with the COC. “We previously indicated that we regretted that flags were banned from the rainbow community.” Source: nu.nl.
Linda Wagenmakers represented the Netherlands at the 2000 ‘Eurovision Song Contest’ with the song ‘No Goodbyes’.
Although Linda Wagenmakers said for years that she did not want to participate in the ‘Eurovision Song Contest’ again, she now has a more nuanced view. “I always said: No, but who knows… With some cool, crazy, over-the-top song. Or something really beautiful,” she tells Party. During ‘Eurovision In Concert’ in Amsterdam, Linda was recently recognized by fans: “People went completely crazy when they recognized me.” She also remembers warm moments at a small ‘Eurovision Song Contest’ festival on Vlieland, where she performed together with Niamh Kavanagh, winner of the ‘Eurovision Song Contest’ in 1993 for Ireland. “The audience is truly loyal,” says Linda. “So many years later, they are still there. It is really nice to be part of that.” Source: Party Magazine
Claude will perform thirteenth in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest. This was announced by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) on Thursday. After the Dutch entry, only Croatia and Cyprus will follow.
The first semi-final will take place on 13 May and will be opened by Iceland. In this semi-final, Claude will compete against favourites Sweden and Estonia, among others. In the second semi-final, on 15 May, Australia will perform first. Finland will close that evening.
Switzerland is organising the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel this year. As the winner of the previous edition, the country is automatically assured of a place in the final. The five largest financing countries, the so-called Big Five – Italy, France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom – have also qualified directly.
Although these six countries do not have to participate in the semi-finals, they will perform during one of the shows. In the first semi-final, in which Claude will also perform, Spain, Italy and host country Switzerland will perform. Because these countries do not receive a starting number, Claude is officially thirteenth on the list, but in the full line-up of the evening he will enter the stage as the fifteenth participant.
The Netherlands is participating in the Eurovision Song Contest for the 65th time this year. Claude represents the Netherlands with the song C’est La Vie. According to the bookmakers, he has a chance of a top 10 position. Sweden and Austria are currently seen as favourites for the win. The Netherlands is currently in fifth place in the predictions. Source: nu.nl.
Unbranded will build the decor for the Eurovision Song Contest for the fourth time. The design, which forms the basis for the production, comes from Wieder Design.
Unbranded, which is located at the Media Park in Hilversum, already made an important contribution to the Eurovision editions in Vienna (2015), Kiev (2017) and Rotterdam (2021) and is now working on the decor for the music spectacle in Basel, Switzerland. According to the company, the focus is on the main stage, the green room, the catwalk and the interval acts. Unbranded also provides ‘props’ for the delegations.
The decors are produced at the Media Park and will leave for Basel in April for construction in the arena. The decor for the Eurovision Song Contest is realized by a team of professionals, with a total of thirty-five people who are closely involved in the construction.
“We are really mega proud that Unbranded is allowed to build the decor for the Eurovision Song Contest for the fourth time,” says managing director Mikael Olsthoorn. “With two hundred million viewers worldwide, this event is one of the largest and most watched TV broadcasts in the world. Our team is working very hard on all the decor to make it a special spectacle. We can’t wait for everyone to see the result!”
Unbranded has a lot of experience in Europe in building decors for large-scale events. This year, the company is building the set for the semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place on 13 and 15 May, with the grand finale on 17 May in Basel. Source: Noordhollands Dagblad.
Claude performed his song C’est La Vie on television for the first time on Saturday at Eva, and for a small audience. The singer will be taking the French-English song to the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel.
Claude performed while walking through the corridors of Eva. At the end, he stood in the rain with a group of dancers. He sang the song in tune, although he was a bit nervous.
At the beginning of the broadcast, Claude said that he was a bit nervous about performing the song to an audience. “I actually didn’t have any tension until I saw all these people sitting there and thought: oh, there will be a lot more of them soon.”
The singer gave a little hint of his Eurovision performance: he will be dancing. He did not want to give any more details about the choreography for C’est La Vie.
The Eva broadcast focused on the first time that Claude watched the Eurovision Song Contest. That was in 2014, when Conchita Wurst won. A very small part of that winning song can be heard in the clip of C’est La Vie.
Wurst had come to the studio especially for Claude. The Austrian artist sang Rise Like a Phoenix and gave Claude a tip: “Don’t party. There will be time for that later.”
Claude’s mother was seen in the broadcast in a previously recorded interview. She said that she is proud of her son. In an interview with NU.nl, she said earlier that she thinks that C’est La Vie tells very well what she taught her children: that life sometimes takes strange turns, but you have to keep going. “I always told my children: one day it will be okay.”
Eva’s broadcast was a special one: normally the AVROTROS program is on from Monday to Thursday. Due to the World Cup distances, there was no broadcast on Thursday and the Claude special was recorded.
The first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel – Claude will appear on stage – is on May 13. The second semi-final is two days later and the final is on Saturday 17 May. Nu.nl reports from Basel and follows Claude closely. Source: nu.nl
Claude from Enkhuizen will represent our country in May at the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland. On Wednesday, his French/English song C’est la vie was leaked via the internet, and on Thursday the 21 year-old artist presented his self-written lyrics to the cameras and the song was played on many radio stations.
The big question: does Claude have any chance at the festival?
“Certainly,” responds Edsilia Rombley. She was twenty years old when she represented our country at the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest in England with the song Hemel en aarde. She became fourth. In 2007 she participated again, but did not qualify into the final. I am a fan of Claude,” Edsilia says. “His voice and charisma make him a great artist. I give him a great chance in Basel because his song C’est la vie suits him perfectly. That way the audience will see a real performance, an act that you believe in.” It is a good song. Very catchy. With that combination of English and French he immediately appeals to a large audience. There is a dash of drama in the music and at the same time it is easy to sing along. Whether he will win, I find it hard to say, because I don’t know the other entries, but I really think that Claude can finish high.”
Does she have any tips for Claude as an expert by experience? “Go with the idea that your life doesn’t depend on it. That puts things into perspective. Realize that it is an honor that you can do it and enjoy it.”
In 1994, Willeke Alberti represented our country at the festival in Ireland with the song Waar Is De Zon. We scored four points. She is very enthusiastic about Claude. “He is cheerful, talented, modest and spontaneous. That is why this boy deserves a large audience. The song is also really good. It makes you happy. And joy and positive sounds are exactly what the public needs in this day and age.”
Ronnie Tober participated for our country in the Eurovision Song Contest in London in 1968. His rendition of the song Morgen earned one point. Yet his performance at that time was an impetus for his career, he says.
Such a big event is simply fantastic to experience, you want that for every young artist. With his open mind and his beautiful voice, Claude will qualify. The song is a good mix of a chanson and a melodious pop hit. That combination will certainly appeal to a large audience, so I think he will end up high.”
Getty Kaspers was the singer of the group Teach-In, who won the festival in 1975 with the song Dingedong. She also thinks that Claude has a chance to be a top 5 winner with C’est la vie, she told the ANP. The song offers a lot of joy.” The power is that the audience can sing along, she thinks.
I think that Europe at this moment, in this world, needs a Claude and a C’ést la vie“. Source: Jan Vriend, Noord Hollands Dagblad.
An eighteen-year-old student from Azerbaijan has apologized for the leak of Claude’s C’est La Vie. The teenager released the song via social media a day before the official release.
Record company Cloud9 has been in contact with the student. “He admitted that he was wrong. We have accepted his apology.” The man obtained the song via a closed group on Telegram. “We are still investigating how the song ended up there,” says the spokesperson for Cloud9.
The company is not pressing charges against the student. Other sources report that the boy has received death threats via social media.
Claude officially presented the song with which he represents the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest to the press and the public on Thursday afternoon. The song had already leaked via X a day earlier. Claude told nu.nl that he was disappointed that the song had been leaked. “It sucks, but there are stupider things, c’est la vie.” Source: nu.nl
Claude is going to the Eurovision Song Contest with the song C’est La Vie. In the song, the singer combines French and English lyrics. The song was released a day earlier than planned, because it was already leaked on social media.
The official release of the song is on Thursday. Claude will then also explain what C’est La Vie is about. AVROTROS does not share any further details, but confirms that this is the entry.
The song starts as a ballad, but quickly moves to more uptempo. At the beginning and at the end of C’est La Vie, the piano sounds can be heard that were previously used in a teaser for the song.
Claude has previously said that his song would be bilingual. Due to his repertoire, it was expected that it would be a French-Dutch song, but the singer has chosen French and English after all. In the song, he keeps switching languages.
In the song, he sings about his mother, as he had already announced. During his participation in Beste Zangers, Claude already said that he got his love for music from home. In the song, he seems to sing about a melody that his mother sang to him.
AVROTROS says it is investigating how the song could have leaked. “Also to learn lessons for the future. But it is difficult. We know that it has happened before with other countries,” says a spokesperson. The broadcaster will not take any steps against the person responsible for the leak. “It is what it is, c’est la vie.”
On 19 December, it was announced that 21-year-old Claude will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of the Netherlands. He will travel to Basel, Switzerland in May, where he hopes to secure a place in the final in the first semi-final on Tuesday 13 May. Source: nu.nl.
The song that Claude will take to the Eurovision Song Contest this year will be played on all major radio stations on Thursday at 4:15 PM. The song can also be found on Spotify and YouTube from that time.
The song, whose title is not yet known, can be heard on Thursday afternoon on NPO Radio 1, NPO Radio 2, NPO 3FM, Qmusic, Radio 538, SLAM!, 100% NL, Radio Veronica and Radio 10. This was reported by broadcaster AVROTROS, which is responsible for the Dutch entry.
At the end of last year it was announced that 21-year-old Claude would be participating for the Netherlands in the Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland. It has now been announced that Claude will perform in the first semi-final, which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13.
Claude made his breakthrough in 2022 with the hit Ladada (Mon Dernier Mot). The singer then scored with songs like Layla, Écoutez-moi, Vas-y (Go Maar) with Suzan & Freek and Je T’aime with Zoë Tauran. He released his debut album Parler Français last November. Source:nu.nl.
Claude will announce on February 27th which song he will represent the Netherlands with at the Eurovision Song Contest. The Instagram account of the Dutch Song Contest team has a small preview.
In the short video, one piano note can be heard. Furthermore, it remains guesswork as to how the song will go or what it will be called.
The 21-year-old singer announced at the end of last year that he is the entry for Basel. In an interview with NU.nl, he said that the song is in any case bilingual. He did not want to say whether it is French-Dutch, like many of Claude’s songs. He ruled out Spanish in any case.
The Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Basel this year, after Nemo won in Malmö last year. The first semi-final, in which Claude hopes to secure a place in the final, is on May 13th. He will then compete against Sweden and Belgium, among others.
The Netherlands is not the first country to announce a number: Finland, Belgium and Spain, among others, have already gone before it. Source: nu.nl,
Claude will be in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Tuesday 13 May. The Netherlands will then compete against Sweden and Belgium, among others, for a place in the final, as determined by the draw on Tuesday.
Claude will also face San Marino, Albania and Azerbaijan. Ukraine, Slovenia, Cyprus and Iceland will also hope to secure a place in the final.
Estonia, Poland, Croatia, Norway and Portugal will also be in the first semi-final. This semi-final can be considered slightly more advantageous, as fifteen countries will participate. There will be sixteen participants in the second semi-final. Ten countries from each semi-final will advance to the final on Saturday.
The competition in the first semi-final is fierce: Ukraine has never been eliminated in a semi-final, Sweden (together with Ireland) has won the Song Festival the most times and Belgium is currently in first place with the bookmakers.
This draw also determined that the Netherlands will be seen in the second half of the first semi-final. The exact order of the shows on Tuesday and Thursday will be announced later: the organization will determine this itself.
It is not yet known which song Claude will participate with in Basel. He previously told nu.nl that his song will be bilingual. In the past, the singer wrote songs in French and Dutch, as well as in French and English.
Like every year, five countries are automatically through to the final: Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain pay so much money to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) that they are automatically through. Last year’s winner, Switzerland, is also automatically on the main stage. This means that 26 countries will ultimately be in the final.
The above six countries are allowed to vote during the semi-finals. Switzerland, Italy and Spain vote during the first semi-final, Germany, France and the UK in the second semi-final. For the Netherlands, it is therefore important that Italian, Spanish and Swiss fans like Claude’s entry.
The Eurovision Song Contest starts in Basel on Tuesday 13 May with the first semi-final. On Thursday 15 May the festival continues with the second semi-final and on Saturday 17 May the final. Source: nu.nl
Claude is the Dutch entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. The 21-year-old singer will go to Basel, Switzerland, in May next year in the hope of beating the participants from the other 37 countries. The song he will sing will be announced at a later date.
The Dutch singer, who is originally from Congo-Kinshasa, previously expressed his wish to go to the Song Contest. “I feel incredibly honoured that I will be able to represent the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest next year and I still can’t believe it,” he says. “I’m really looking forward to it and can’t wait to let Europe hear the song.”
In recent years, Claude has scored hits with songs such as Ladada (Mon dernier mot) and Vas-y (Ga Maar). The singer usually sings in a mix of Dutch and French. It is not yet known whether his Song Contest entry will also be bilingual. Claude will tell more about his participation in Eva tonight and will also speak to NU.nl later.
The selection committee chose Claude’s entry from 331 entries. The committee wrote in an initial response that his song is “a meaningful, connecting and hit-sensitive song, with international appeal that can effortlessly conquer the hearts of young and old Eurovision viewers”.
In September, Claude was still seen in the AVROTROS program Beste Zangers. Shortly afterwards, he released his debut album Parler Français.
For a long time, it was uncertain whether the Netherlands would even participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. Joost Klein, this year’s entry, was disqualified in May after an incident behind the scenes in which a camerawoman felt intimidated by the artist. AVROTROS filed an objection, but to no avail.
After the edition in Malmö, complaints about the working atmosphere behind the scenes came from various countries. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced several changes in response. For example, fewer rehearsals will be filmed and a safe space will be created behind the scenes for artists where cameras are not allowed.
The Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Switzerland in 2025, after Nemo won this year with the song The Code. Source: nu.nl
The Dutch selection committee for the Eurovision Song Contest has received 331 entries for the 2025 edition. “A huge and fantastic number considering the short period that registration was open,” AVROTROS announced on Saturday.
The number ensures diversity: the entries include songs in Dutch, English and other languages, ranging from ballads to uptempo and rock songs.
Registration for the Song Contest opened later than usual this year. For a long time it was unclear whether the Netherlands would participate in the edition in Basel, Switzerland, due to the controversy surrounding the disqualification of Joost Klein.
The Europapa singer declined to participate in the upcoming edition and “needs more time to recover”. “I am grateful for all the love and support I have received. But I am still devastated by what happened this year,” Klein said earlier.
The selection committee will consider the entries in the coming weeks and then determine which artist will represent the Netherlands in Basel. While the number of 331 is an impressive result, it is lower than last year’s record number of over 600 entries. Source: nu.nl
Anouk has sent a song to the Eurovision Song Contest selection committee. The singer said this on Thursday evening during the broadcast of RTL Boulevard.
Anouk says that she was approached by the selection committee for possible participation in the Song Contest. “After that, I immediately sent in a song”, says Anouk.
She has not heard anything from the committee yet. “They can never do that, because they do not want to favor people. I think that there are enough people who could and would possibly go”, emphasizes the singer. “As a songwriter, I also think that the best song should win. I also understand when people say: she has already been.”
Anouk already participated in the Song Contest in 2013 with the song Birds. She came ninth in the final in Malmö, Sweden. She was the first Dutch participant in nine years to reach the final.
The song with which the artist has now registered is a “fairly hard song and not a depressive ballad”. “They’re not birds falling off the roof,” she says, referring to her previous entry.
Anouk also said during the broadcast that she had submitted a song for this year’s edition together with rapper Latifah. But the selection committee chose the song Europapa by Joost Klein. “What I don’t think is nice is that you don’t just send an email saying: unfortunately, you didn’t get it.” Source: nu.nl.
The Netherlands will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Switzerland, AVROTROS reported on Wednesday. Joost Klein was asked to participate again, but he declined the offer.
AVROTROS says it has had months of discussions and consultations with the European Broadcasting Union, the organization behind the Song Contest. AVROTROS now has sufficient guarantees “that structural changes will be implemented at the music festival”.
Joost Klein was offered the opportunity to participate again, the broadcaster says, but he ultimately chose to decline the offer. “Registration for new songs for 2025 is now open.”
Klein himself has also responded. “My team and I had everything ready, but it just doesn’t feel right. I am grateful for all the love from all over the world, but I still haven’t recovered from this year. I need to give myself more time to heal.”
AVROTROS previously expressed doubts about participating in 2025, partly because of the disqualification of Joost Klein and the unpleasant atmosphere behind the scenes. The broadcaster still believes that the disqualification of the Dutch participant in Malmö was unnecessary and disproportionate. Klein is the first artist to be excluded from participating while the Eurovision Song Contest was already underway.
The singer is said to have made a threatening gesture towards a camerawoman. The Swedish judiciary decided to stop the investigation into the incident at the beginning of August. The judiciary could not establish that Klein had made his “threatening gesture” with the intention of causing the camerawoman “serious fear”.
The original deadline for registration was 15 September. The EBU had granted AVROTROS an extension until 1 November. Source: nu.nl
AVROTROS will be given extra time to decide on participation in the Eurovision Song Contest next year. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has granted the broadcaster an extension until 1 November, an AVROTROS spokesperson confirmed to ANP.
AVROTROS has been in talks with the EBU for several weeks about the Netherlands’ participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. The broadcaster has previously expressed doubts, partly because of the disqualification of Joost Klein and the unpleasant atmosphere behind the scenes.
The broadcaster still believes that the disqualification of the Dutch participant in Malmö was unnecessary and disproportionate. Klein is the first artist to be excluded from participation while the Song Contest was already underway.
The singer is said to have made a threatening gesture towards a camerawoman. The Swedish judiciary decided to discontinue the investigation into the incident in early August. The judiciary could not establish that Klein had made his “threatening gesture” with the intention of causing the camerawoman “serious fear”.
“The talks are constructive, but still ongoing,” says the spokesperson for AVROTROS about the talks between the broadcaster and the EBU. “To give this constructive dialogue a chance to succeed, AVROTROS has requested a postponement for the decision on participation. The EBU has granted this postponement until 1 November, for which we are grateful.”
The EBU says it is pleased with the talks. “And we sincerely hope that AVROTROS will participate in Basel in May,” says a spokesperson.
The original deadline for registration was 15 September. Countries can then withdraw for a period free of charge. Source: nu.nl
According to the EBU, the Public Prosecution Service’s decision to dismiss the case does not detract from the fact that, according to the EBU, Klein acted in violation of EBU rules. His disqualification was therefore justified according to the EBU. Unfortunately, it does not state which rule was violated that justifies such a draconian punishment as disqualification.
Continuing to maintain the publicly stated view that Joost Klein committed a disqualifying act is without a doubt a defamatory accusation. After all, anyone who deliberately attacks someone’s honour or good name by accusing them of a certain act with the apparent aim of publicising it commits the criminal offence of defamation. AvroTros could therefore file a complaint of defamation against the EBU.
All the more so now that the consequences of the disqualification have also manifested themselves in the Netherlands and the Netherlands can therefore be regarded as the place where the crime of defamation was committed.
Gerard Spong, Amsterdam.
The above concerns a letter to the editor of de Volkskrant, from the Dutch lawyer Gerard Spong, in which he indicates that the statement of the EBU, without reason for the disqualification, is libel and that an official complaint can be filed against this. I wonder if AVROTOS or Joost Klein will take action on this. Personally, I would consider this a strong action. 😊
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) still fully supports the decision to disqualify Joost Klein from the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. The Swedish authorities decided on Monday to discontinue the investigation into the artist.
EBU boss Jean Philip De Tender states in the statement that the Swedish authorities’ investigation was about whether a criminal offence had been committed and not “whether Mr Klein behaved inappropriately and violated the rules of the Eurovision Song Contest”.
According to De Tender, the Swedish authorities’ decision not to prosecute Klein therefore has “no influence” on the decision to disqualify the singer. The EBU therefore continues to support the decision.
The Dutch entry for the Eurovision Song Contest was disqualified in May after an incident behind the scenes of the event. The singer allegedly made a threatening gesture towards a camerawoman.
On Monday it was announced that the Swedish authorities had decided to discontinue the investigation into the incident with Klein due to a lack of evidence. According to the investigators, it cannot be proven that Klein’s action “led to serious fear” or that he “had such intentions”.
Klein’s manager said that the singer is “incredibly happy and relieved” that the investigation into the alleged violent incident has been stopped. “We, as a team, are incredibly happy and relieved that this uncertain period has now come to an end. Finally we can say it out loud: there was never a reason for this case.”
AVROTROS wants to have a meeting with the EBU in the short term, in which Klein’s “unjustified disqualification” will be central.
The investigation into the incident involving Joost Klein at the Eurovision Song Contest has been discontinued. The Swedish Public Prosecution Service reported on Monday that there was a lack of evidence. This means that Klein will not be prosecuted.
The Swedish Public Prosecution Service writes that the investigation into a 26-year-old man who allegedly threatened a camerawoman has been closed. The investigation shows that Klein made a movement in which he hit her camera.
According to the public prosecutor, the incident happened quickly and the stories of Klein, the camerawoman and witnesses differ. Therefore, it is not possible to determine what exactly happened.
“Today, the investigation is closed because it cannot be proven that the act caused real fear and that this was the man’s intention,” writes prosecutor Fredrik Jönsson. Dutch witnesses were also heard for the case. Last month it was announced that the Dutch Public Prosecution Service had reported this to the Swedish Public Prosecution Service.
AVROTROS writes in a response that it finds Klein’s disqualification “unnecessary and disproportionate from the start”. “That is now also the case. We are still very disappointed that the Europapa adventure of Joost Klein and the whole of the Netherlands was brutally ended in this way. The next step is to have a meeting with the EBU management about this matter in the short term.”
In May, Klein was disqualified from the Eurovision Song Contest because of the incident, thus making Eurovision Song Contest history: never before had a country been disqualified while the event was already underway.
The singer qualified for the final on behalf of the Netherlands with the song Europapa. On the day of the final, it became clear that Klein was not welcome on the Eurovision stage that evening. The decision led to anger at AVROTROS.
AVROTROS has expressed its doubts about participating in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, if the organiser European Broadcasting Union (EBU) does not implement changes to its policy. Several delegations complained this year about an unpleasant atmosphere behind the scenes at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Klein himself has not yet shared his side of the story in the media. Since the Eurovision Song Contest, he has hinted several times that he wants to participate again in 2025. For example, during his performance at Pinkpop, he shouted “2025, why not?” and posted “Eurovision 2025” on his Instagram account.
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