Swedish authorities have closed a case involving Dutch Eurovision contestant, Joost Klein, due to lack of evidence, announces Stockholm’s public prosecutor.
The Dutch artist was tipped as a favourite for the Eurovision 2024 edition in Sweden with his song Europapa, but the event was mired in controversy.
Klein was reportedly accused of threatening a member of staff, leading to his disqualification just before the grand final – but what truly transpired remains unclear.
The event’s organiser, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), stated that the decision was reached after an "in-depth internal investigation".
However, Dutch broadcaster, AVROTROS, swiftly criticised this, deeming the action "disproportionate".
On Monday, the Public Prosecutor announced that Klein's actions could not be proven to have caused "severe fear, or that the man had such intentions."
Responding to inquiries, Klein’s legal team confirmed the conclusion of the investigation.
Klein relief
Joost Klein expressed immense relief after the investigation into an alleged assault at the Eurovision Song Contest was dropped.
"The recent months have been extraordinarily tough," the manager stated. "Despite our love for performing worldwide, the circumstances were far from ideal."
The team is profoundly pleased and comforted by the conclusion of this unsettling phase. He added, "We can now firmly assert there was never any justification for this case to begin with."
AVROTROS, the Dutch public broadcaster, is still "gravely disappointed" about Klein's disqualification. They intend to discuss the matter with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the governing body for the contest, "as soon as possible."
The broadcaster stands by its initial assertion that the disqualification was both "unnecessary and disproportionate," a viewpoint reinforced by current developments.
However, it is still unclear whether The Netherlands will participate in next year's event. AVROTROS previously stated that the EBU must implement certain changes before their participation can be confirmed.
Looking ahead, Klein is currently working on a new album. He concluded, "Love always wins."
