Dutch rapper Jost Klein (26) was disqualified from the Eurovision Song Contest due to a conflict behind the scenes - the BBC reports today.
Thus, there will be 25 songs in tonight's grand final, instead of the planned 26.
He was sent home after a member of the production crew told Swedish police that he had intimidated her.
In a statement, the organizers of the competition said that "it would not be appropriate for him to continue the competition" while legal proceedings are pending.
Dutch broadcaster Avrtotros described Klein's expulsion as "disproportionate" to the event that preceded it.
In a statement on social media, the company said it was "shocked by the decision" and would "come back to it later."
Klein was among the favorites to win this year's competition with the song "Europapa". That pro-European techno-anthem is dedicated to his father, who died of cancer when Klein was 12 years old.
The news that he was disqualified appeared on social media on Friday afternoon, during the first dress rehearsal for tonight's grand final.
Klein's props were on stage at the Malmö Arena when the production manager said they should be removed. His performance was then skipped without explanation, and the Israeli Eden Golan, who was next in line, performed instead.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the competition, later said it was "investigating a reported case involving a Dutch artist".
The Swedish police confirmed today that he was reported for "illegal threats" after Thursday's semi-final and that they took "all necessary investigative measures and questioned the suspect, prosecutor and witnesses", and that "the case will go to the prosecutor within a few weeks".
The EBU subsequently confirmed that Klein will not participate in tonight's grand final.
"We adhere to a zero-tolerance policy towards inappropriate behavior at our event and are committed to providing safety and a safe working environment for all staff at the competition" - says the EBU and indicates that "in this light, the behavior of Jost Klein towards a member of the production team is considered a violation of the rules of the competition ".
The organizers pointed out that, "contrary to some media reports and speculation on social networks, this case did not involve any other performers or members of the delegation".
Initial reports alluded to antagonism between Klein and the Israeli contestant over emotional reactions to the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
During a press conference on Thursday after the semi-final night of the pageant, which he insists should be apolitical, Klein drew attention for expressing his displeasure at being placed next to Israeli representative Golan. While he was speaking, he covered his head and face with the Dutch flag several times.
However, the EBU said that his expulsion had nothing to do with his attitude towards representatives of other countries.
However, the Eurovision Song Contest, which is officially apolitical, was disrupted this year by Israel's war against the Palestinian Hamas in the Gaza Strip - notes AFP.
On Thursday, the young Israeli singer Eden Golan (20) made it to the finals of that competition with the song "Hurricane", the first version of the lyrics of which had to be changed because it was considered to allude to October 7 and the bloody attack by the Palestinian Hamas on Israel, after which the war in Gaza began.
The BBC reports that it would not be possible to replace the disqualified Klein in part because of the difficulty of adding new elements to the production at the last minute. In addition, the organizers are not willing to let the eliminated 11th placed competitor from the semi-final held on Thursday into the finals, because it would be against the rules on the results of the public vote. At that time, the first ten best-ranked out of a total of 16 competitors made it to the finals, including Golan and Klein.
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