Three months on from the final of Eurovision 2024, police in Sweden have dropped the case against Dutch artist Joost Klein.
Insufficient proof in the case
Joost’s problems began when after his semi-final performance, he was filmed without his consent. This, according to Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, went against clear agreements made between the EBU and Joost.
Following this, the artist was pulled from performing in the first dress rehearsal for the final, and subsequent rehearsals in front of crowds. The EBU eventually made the decision to disqualify Joost from the competition, therefore rendering the Netherlands unable to compete in the final.
Legal proceedings have now taken place in Sweden, with the Swedish Prosecution Authority making the decision to drop the charges against Joost. Speaking following the decision, senior prosecutor Fredrik Jönsson said:
Today I have closed the investigation because I cannot prove that the act was capable of causing serious fear or that the man had any such intention.
Following this decision, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS released a statement, saying that the ball is now in the EBU’s court, and it is up to them to decide what happens next. The full statement read:
From the beginning we have said that this disqualification was unnecessary and disproportionate and now it turns out to be so.
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 that there will be a discussion with the EBU management about this matter in the short term.
This conversation will focus on this unjustified disqualification. We will also discuss all our other objections about the behind-the-scenes proceedings at the Eurovision Song Contest, which we previously sent in an extensive letter of objection to the EBU and which have remained unanswered to date.
AVROTROS’s approach is and remains that the Songfestival is about artists and their musical message. The EBU now has the floor.
The EBU’s response
As well as AVROTROS, the EBU themselves released a statement on the scandal. Responding to the closure of the case, Jean Philip De Tender – EBU Deputy Director-General and Director of Media – said:
The EBU aims to ensure the Eurovision Song Contest is a show for everyone and is a safe place for staff, artists, guests and fans.
Like all responsible employers, we do not tolerate inappropriate behaviour and will always respond to any workplace issues that are reported to us.
The decision to disqualify Mr Klein from this year’s event was made in strict accordance with Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) rules and governance procedures, after an internal investigation.
In parallel, Swedish police decided to open a formal investigation into the conduct of Mr Klein during the Second Semi Final, which we understand was closed today without further action.
This was an investigation into whether a criminal act was committed and not whether Mr Klein behaved inappropriately and breached ESC rules and procedures. This new development therefore does not have any impact on our decision which we stand by completely.
Who is Joost Klein?
A Friesland native (which gave name to his 2022 album Fryslân) Joost Klein got his start on YouTube, initially making sketches and mini-documentaries, before releasing his debut EP in 2016. Mainly a hiphop artist, Joost also mixes influences of drum & bass, hardstyle and gabber into his songs.
Joost lost both of his parents during childhood, which is the inspiration for a number of songs including Europapa, as well as others such as Florida 2009 and Papa en Mama. Joost regularly performs at festivals in the Benelux such as Pinkpop and Lowlands, and has to date released 8 studio albums.
His first breakthrough into the European market was with the song “Friesenjung”, a collaboration with German rapper Ski Aggu, which is an adaptation of a song by East Frisian comedian Otto Waalkes, the song reached number 1 in both Austria and Germany.
His song for Eurovision, Europapa, which was written alongside 6 others, is already a commercial success in both the Netherlands and Flanders in Belgium.
The Netherlands’ Eurovision journey
The Netherlands are one of the founding countries of the ESC, having performed the very first song ever on the Eurovision stage back in 1956. While the result of “De Vogels van Holland” is unknown, the Netherlands have garnered 5 wins, with their most recent in 2019. However the Netherlands are also known to have had the longest ever non qualification streak in the semi-final era – they missed out on the final a whopping 8 times between 2005 and 2012.
Joost Klein represented the Netherlands in 2024 with the song “Europapa”. While he was ultimately disqualified, he would have made it to the final, placing second in his semi-final with 182 points.
What do you make of the news coming from Swedish police? Do you think this will be the end of the Joost Klein drama? What will the EBU do next? As always let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow “That Eurovision Site” on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Tumblr, Threads and Bluesky as we turn our attention to Eurovision 2025!
News Source: Eurovision.tv / AVROTROS / Swedish Police Authority
Photo Credit: Corinne Cumming / EBU
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