Devendra Kumar
The Eurovision Song Contest act for the Netherlands, Joost Klein, has been barred from rehearsing by the organisers due to an unexplained “incident”. Klein, a 26-year-old Dutch rapper and singer, qualified for the grand final on Thursday evening at the Malmo Arena venue in Sweden with his song “Europapa”, a tribute to his late parents. Despite his qualification, Klein was seen briefly at rehearsals on Friday during the flag parade, but he failed to turn up for his scheduled performance. When questioned about the reason for his absence, Klein’s team only offered a vague statement from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), stating that they were investigating an incident involving the Dutch artist and that he would not be rehearsing until further notice.
Klein’s comments on Thursday had already raised some eyebrows, as he pressed Israeli act Eden Golan on whether she was risking the safety of other contestants by taking part in the competition, sparking controversy and speculation. During a press conference, a journalist asked Golan if she thought her presence at Eurovision posed a risk to others, to which Golan replied that the EBU was taking all necessary safety precautions to ensure a safe and united environment for everyone. Klein then chimed in, asking why Golan didn’t have to answer the question, prompting some to criticise his questioning.
It has also been reported that Klein faced censure following another issue on Thursday, although the details of this incident are unclear. The situation has further fuelled speculation about the reason for Klein’s absence from rehearsals, with some speculating that it may be related to his comments about Golan.
The controversy surrounding the Dutch contestant’s actions has taken the spotlight away from the music and the performers, and the cancellation of his rehearsals has caused tension among the participants. As the grand final approaches, fans are eagerly awaiting an update on the situation and the outcome of the investigation, but for now, all that is known is that Klein is being kept under wraps until further notice.