MALMO, Sweden — A Dutch public broadcaster reacted angrily after the Netherlands' contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest was dramatically expelled from the competition hours before Saturday's final over a backstage altercation that is being investigated by police.
The European Broadcasting Union, which organizes Eurovision, said that Swedish police were investigating ''a complaint made by a female member of the production crew'' about Joost Klein, and it wouldn't be appropriate for him to participate while the legal process was underway.
Klein had failed to perform at two dress rehearsals on Friday in the Swedish city of Malmo, and organizers had said they were investigating an ''incident.'' Though rumors had been flying that the incident was connected to Israel's delegation, organizers said it ''did not involve any other performer or delegation member.''
The EBU said that Klein won't receive any points from national juries or from Eurovision viewers, who help pick the winner, and the Netherlands won't appear on the contest scoreboard. Dutch viewers will still be able to vote in the contest, since viewers in Eurovision member countries aren't allowed to vote for their own nation's act.
It was unclear whether Klein was still in Malmo on Saturday.
Such a last-minute disqualification is unprecedented in the 68-year history of Eurovision, although countries have boycotted the event and in some cases been expelled — including Russia, kicked out after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, one of dozens of public broadcasters that collectively fund and broadcast the contest, said it was ''shocked by the decision.''
Later it issued a statement saying that as Klein came offstage after Thursday's semifinal he was filmed without his consent and in turn made a ''threatening movement'' toward the camera.
