Eurovision 2024 Scandal: Disqualification, Lyrics Removal, Controversial Winner

Eurovision 2024 couldn’t stay away from scandal and controversy. The 68th Eurovision Song Contest concluded this weekend amidst a whirlwind of controversy, raising questions about the results’ legitimacy and the competition’s overall spirit.

Disqualifying Klein, the Dutch singer, for unclear allegations

The biggest pre-contest scandal surrounded the disqualification of the Dutch representative, Joost Klein. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) disqualified Klein just before the final due to an “incident” involving a female production crew member. Allegations arose that Klein had intimidated this woman, though the exact nature of the incident remains unclear. The Swedish police confirmed questioning a man for threatening a Eurovision employee but did not confirm the individual’s identity. Klein’s absence and the lack of transparency surrounding his disqualification left a sour taste in the mouths of many fans.

Now, a few questions remain, as the allegations have not been proven yet, and all there is is the accusation of one Swedish woman, which is currently under investigation by the brave Swedish Police. So, are accusations enough to exclude a contestant from Eurovision? It’s good to know that…

To make it more controversial, his hit is called Europapa, where Papa doesn’t refer to any father figure—got it?

Croatia had the most appreciated song in the final, yet Baby Lasagna lost

Croatia’s energetic performance of “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” by Baby Lasagna was an instant fan favourite, quickly gaining traction online and sparking discussions about its potential to be the summer’s biggest earworm. However, when the votes were tallied, it was Switzerland’s non-binary that emerged victorious.

Many viewers expressed discontent on social media, arguing that “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” had a stronger melody and broader appeal, potentially reflecting a bias in jury voting.

Israel was required to replace the title and remove lyrics from its representative’s song

Another point of tension arose regarding the Israeli entry. The EBU reportedly requested that Israel revise its song lyrics, deeming certain content politically charged and in violation of contest rules.

Eden Golan’s original song, called October Rain, referring to Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, was changed into Hurricane. Also, controversial lyrics had to be adjusted for the singer to be let in the competition.

This move sparked debate about artistic freedom and the role of politics in Eurovision, a contest which claims to be politics-free.

The controversial non-binary winner breaks the Code, but also the Eurovision Trophy on stage

Adding fuel to the fire, the Swiss winner accidentally broke the iconic Eurovision trophy. While some saw it as a lighthearted mishap, others interpreted it as a symbolic foreshadowing of a troubled victory. Others scientifically referred to the Swiss representative’s piercing glass-shattering eardrum-perforating voice, which affected the trophy, but who knows exactly what happened?

For those who don’t understand Eurovision, these were only the most visible controversial and scandalous moments during this year’s contest.

Unfortunately, Eurovision will have some good songs in the competition, but politics will always prevail. despite the competition being promoted as politcs-free. The winner is not always the best voice or singer but only the one most favoured by the voting gods in Brussels. We’re not in 1974 when Waterloo became an international hit and offered ABBA as the most successful Swedish band of all time to the whole world.