Disqualified Eurovision entrant declines to participate in contest next year

Disqualified Eurovision Song Contest entrant Joost Klein has declined an connection from the Dutch broadcaster to instrumentality to the contention adjacent year.

The Netherlands singer, 26, was removed from the 2024 contention up of the last successful Malmo, Sweden, pursuing accusations of threatening behaviour towards a pistillate subordinate of the accumulation crew.

Klein had hinted connected societal media that helium would instrumentality to the competition, earlier posting connected Instagram connected Wednesday saying: “I’ve made the determination to not enactment successful Eurovision 2025. My squad and I had everything ready, but it conscionable doesn’t consciousness good.

“I americium precise thankful for each the emotion astir the world, nevertheless I americium inactive precise affected by this year. I request to springiness myself much clip to heal.”

Dutch broadcaster Avrotros confirmed it had made the connection to Klein, who entered the contention past twelvemonth with the upbeat and wacky Europapa.

It antecedently said the Netherlands’ information successful the contention was “under consideration”, but has confirmed it is returning.

Avrotros said successful a connection that it is “satisfied with the bundle of measures” that has been enactment successful spot by organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and is looking “positively to the future”.

The broadcaster cited the EBU having an creator information manager, saying it volition trim behind-the-scenes filming, having a situation squad from crossed participating countries, and the assignment of Martin Green arsenic caller Eurovision manager pursuing its review.

It added: “Avrotros volition proceed to show this process closely, but is hopeful and has assurance successful the renewal of Europe’s largest euphony festival. ”

Avrotros says it has begun the hunt for its entrant for Eurovision 2025 successful Basel, Switzerland.

Klein’s transgression lawsuit was dropped by the Swedish Prosecution Authority successful August.

The EBU said the determination to disqualify Klein was “made successful strict accordance with Eurovision Song Contest rules and governance procedures, aft an interior investigation”.

Earlier this month, the BBC announced that Sam Ryder’s manager David May is to caput up the UK’s hunt for its adjacent Eurovision contestant.

The Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 volition instrumentality spot successful St Jakobshalle connected May 17, with the semi-finals taking spot connected May 13 and 15.