Picture credits: © EBU / Sarah Louise Bennett The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2024 took place amidst tension and several controversies, with some delegations complaining about the unsafe atmosphere backstage… including the Netherlands.
The country was kept out of the grand final following the disqualification of its representative, Joost Klein, due to violent behavior. The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS confirmed to the NU.nl website that there was an atmosphere of insecurity, particularly in the delegation bubble where delegations, artists, and staff are concentrated.
Indeed, AVROTROS reported the issue to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) on Friday: one day after the incident involving Joost Klein. However, it did not specify the cause of this unsafe atmosphere.
Criticism did not only come from the Netherlands. Gåte, representatives of Norway, considered withdrawing from the final until the last moment. Silvester Belt, from Lithuania, described a “traumatic experience” leading up to the final, while Bambie Thug (Ireland) strongly criticized the EBU. In the afternoon of Saturday, just hours before the final, there was reportedly an emergency meeting of the EBU with five delegations to discuss the atmosphere.
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