Joost Klein, the Dutch singer, will no longer participate in this year's Eurovision Song Contest final.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organizers behind the famed competition, confirmed this development in a statement released on Saturday afternoon.
Sudden Absence and Legal Complications
Joost Klein, who mysteriously missed Friday afternoon's rehearsal, has been embroiled in controversy following an incident that occurred after his performance in Thursday's semifinal.
"The Dutch artist Joost Klein will not participate in the grand finale of this year's Eurovision Song Contest," stated the EBU.
The reason for this sudden decision stems from an investigation launched by Swedish police into a complaint from a female production team member.
"While the legal process is underway, it would not be appropriate for him to continue in the competition," the EBU elaborated.
Police Investigation Underway
The Swedish police are now actively involved in the case.
"We have a case involving a man suspected of threats that occurred at the Malmö Arena. The alleged offense took place Thursday night but was reported on Friday. We have interviewed witnesses and taken other investigative measures," Evelina Olsson, a police spokesperson, told Aftonbladet.
EBU's Commitment to Safety
The EBU has strongly refuted some rumors about the reasons behind Klein's absence.
"We want to clarify that, contrary to some media reports and speculations on social media, this incident did not involve any other artist or delegation member," they said.
Highlighting their policy, the EBU emphasized,
"We have a zero-tolerance policy towards inappropriate behavior at our event and are committed to creating a safe and secure working environment for all employees at the competition. In light of this, Joost Klein's behavior towards a team member is considered to be in violation of the competition rules."
As the grand finale of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest approaches, it will proceed with 25 songs instead of the originally planned 26.
