Eurovision 2024: Netherlands entrant Joost Klein questioned by police over ‘incident’, Dutch media reports

The Netherlands’ Eurovision entrant has been questioned by police over claims he made “unlawful threats” to a member of staff, Dutch media reports.

Joost Klein, 26, missed his slot in the show’s penultimate dress rehearsal in Malmo, Sweden, on Friday and was not allowed to take part in either of yesterday’s two dry-runs after the event’s organiser said it was investigating an “incident” he was involved in.

Swedish police say they subsequently questioned a man over alleged “unlawful threats” made against a Eurovision employee on Thursday evening.

The complainant was a female TV worker, Dutch media reports.

Swedish police said they have “taken all essential investigative measures and questioned the suspect, plaintiff and witnesses”.

“The investigation has been completed by the police,” they added.

“The case follows the normal legal process. The police have used faster prosecution and the case will now go to the prosecutor within a few weeks.”

Voting for the final candidates has been postponed until there is a final decision on the Dutch entry, competition organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said.

Klein had been due to perform his track Europapa in fifth place, just before Eden Golan, the 20-year-old Israel entrant, sang her entry, Hurricane.

A video posted on the X social media platform showed a producer announcing that Klein would not be performing on Friday, prompting a chorus of boos from members of the audience.

Klein had been part of the flag parade at the start of the rehearsal, and walked around the stage in full costume, but then failed to arrive on stage for his performance around 30 minutes later.

The EBU also said it was talking to Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, without explaining why.

A clip of Klein’s happy-hardcore inspired entry was played out in the recap clips of all 26 songs throughout the rehearsal show, but with a clip of a previous Klein rehearsal.

Protests have dogged the competition over Israel’s inclusion amid the war in Gaza.

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On Thursday, 10,000-12,000 people, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, took to the streets of the city to call for Israel to be excluded.

On X, Ms Thunberg claimed Israel is trying to “artwash” Eurovision, referencing the use of artistic performance to distract from perceived negative actions by people, groups, governments or countries.

“We will not accept that a country currently committing genocide is allowed a platform to artwash themselves,” the 21-year-old said.

“The world cannot remain silent in a genocide.”

At a news conference the same day, Klein covered his head while Golan was speaking to reporters and shouted “why not” when a journalist told her she didn’t have to answer a question.