Eurovision 2024 final news: Start time, odds, finalists and what we know about Joost

The Netherlands entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, Joost Klein, was disqualified following a “threatening movement” from the singer towards a camerawoman, a Dutch radio and television broadcaster said.

A statement from the Netherlands’ Songfestival, which sends acts to the Eurovision Song Contest, on X added that AVROTROS, the Dutch radio and television broadcaster, found the “penalty very heavy and disproportionate” and said it was “very disappointed”.

On X, formerly Twitter, the statement said: “An incident occurred after last Thursday’s performance. Against clearly made agreements, Joost was filmed when he had just gotten off stage and had to rush to the green room.

“At that moment, Joost repeatedly indicated that he did not want to be filmed. This wasn’t respected.

“This led to a threatening movement from Joost towards the camera. Joost did not touch the camerawoman. This incident was reported, followed by an investigation by the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) and police”.

The statement said they had “consulted extensively with the EBU and proposed several solutions”, but that “nevertheless, the EBU has still decided to disqualify Joost Klein”.

It added that AVROTROS “finds the penalty very heavy and disproportionate”, saying they “stand for good manners – let there be no misunderstanding about that – but in our view, an exclusion order is not proportional to this incident”.

The statement ended saying: “We are very disappointed and upset for the millions of fans who were so excited for tonight. What Joost brought to the Netherlands and Europe shouldn’t have ended this way.”

Klein, 26, entered with the song Europapa, which is a tribute to his late parents.

He was disqualified from Saturday night’s grand final following a Swedish police investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

The EBU said police were investigating a complaint made by a female member of the production crew after an incident following his performance in Thursday night’s semi-final.

“While the legal process takes its course, it would not be appropriate for him to continue in the contest,” it said in a statement.

“We would like to make it clear that, contrary to some media reports and social media speculation, this incident did not involve any other performer or delegation member.

“We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards inappropriate behaviour at our event and are committed to providing a safe and secure working environment for all staff at the contest.

“In light of this, Joost Klein’s behaviour towards a team member is deemed in breach of contest rules.”

A follow-up statement said Dutch viewers would still be allowed to vote in the grand final and added that the Dutch jury result is still valid.

Quite a lot of scrutiny from Dutch fans is being aimed at Keren Peles, the composer and songwriter behind Israel’s song “Hurricane”.

One clip shared to her Instagram Stories shows her seemingly pretending to film her colleagues while zooming in on Joost in the background – this apparently before the incident that got him disqualified.

Eden Golan is representing Israel with the track “Hurricane”, which was reworked from original entry “October Rain” after it was alleged to include references to the 7 October attacks by Hamas, therefore breaching the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) rules over political songs.

The Israel-born Golan, who grew up in Russia, told ITV News this week that she could not have asked “for a better year to be representing my country”.

Protests over Israel’s participation are underway in Malmö, Sweden, which is hosting this year’s contest following Swedish contestant Loreen’s win with “Tattoo” in 2023.

The Eurovision Song Contest has been plunged into further chaos after France’s delegate Slimane called for peace, while a Norwegian jury spokesperson resigned as she appeared to call out the organisers for hypocrisy.

On Saturday (11 May) during the dress rehearsals at the Malmo Arena in Sweden, French contestant Slimane stopped singing “Mon Amour” to call for peace amid the war between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip.

There have been multiple calls to boycott the competition over Israel’s participation with singer Eden Golan, who is due to perform her song Hurricane on Saturday evening, as large protests take place in the city centre.

Slimane told the audience: “Everybody, I just need to say something. Sorry I don’t speak English very well but when I was a child I dreamed about music, I dreamed about this dream, to be a singer and to sing peace here.

“Every artist here wants to sing about love and sing about peace. We need to be united by music yes, but with love for peace. United by music yes, but with love for peace. Thank you so much, thank you Europe.”

Palestinian flags – which had been banned by the organisers the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – were also seen in the audience.

Ahead of the grand final, Alessandra Mele posted to Instagram to say that she will no longer be the person who announces the points awarded by Norway during Eurovision.

In a video the former Eurovision contestant said: “Even though I’m thankful that I was given the opportunity to do so, I’ve taken the decision to withdraw. United by music – Eurovision’s motto is the reason why the music unites people, brings them together.

“But right now, those words are just empty words. There is a genocide going on and I’m asking you all to please open up your eyes, open up your heart, let love lead you to the truth.

“It’s right in front of you. Free Palestine.”

The grand final will now have 25 performers rather than 26 after Dutch act Joost Klein was disqualified following a Swedish police investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has been approached for comment.

The UK’s delegate Olly Alexander has shared a somewhat muted video from his hotel room ahead of the final tonight. To be honest, who can blame him – it’s sounding as though the show is being thrown into further chaos after France’s entry Slimane called for “peace” (will the EBU see this as a “political” statement, I wonder?) and a Nowegian jury spokesperson resigned at the 11th hour, currently no confirmation as to why.

“We’re here, and last night’s jury performance went really well, so, let’s do this,” Alexander says in his video. “What more can I say apart from… vote for me. And… I love you all”

And no comment on his fellow delegate Joost being disqualified. Hmm.

Accusations that a genocide is being carried out in Gaza have been vehemently denied by Israel, amid its ongoing war with Hamas sparked by the 7 October attacks. More than 34,000 Palestinians, including more than 14,000 children, have been killed by Israeli strikes since 7 October.

Here’s everything we know about her so far:

The 2024 grand final is taking place on Saturday (11 May), following the first round of semi-finals that saw Ireland’s contestant Bambie Thug sailing through to the final along with Croatia’s Baby Lasagna and Ukraine’s Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil.

Eurovision is widely known for its fiendishly complex voting system, with the European Broadcasting Union making some tweaks for the 2024 competition.