After the scandalous ESC in Malmö: Grand Prix faces a shambles
Published: Sunday, May 12th 2024, 15:10
Volver a Live Feed
It wasn't just the trophy that was broken on this ESC evening. The organizers have to put up with questions: The worst hostilities against Israel came from the heart of the song contest.
There is this scene that is symbolic of the entire Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2024: Early Sunday morning, the glass ESC trophy suddenly lies in ruins. In the middle of the stage in Malmö, Sweden. Nemo had just won the world's biggest song contest a few moments ago when the mishap occurred. The broken stump of the trophy remains on the floor. The trophy is replaced within seconds. But what the TV audience had experienced in the hours before had turned the whole music spectacle into a shambles. "The trophy can be repaired - perhaps the ESC also needs a little bit of repair," says the Swiss act later ambiguously.
Israeli artist Eden Golan remained brave for a long time in this final - but after her performance she bursts into tears. She is repeatedly subjected to unspeakable hostility. The worst thing about it is that it doesn't come mainly from the internet as expected or is even limited to demonstrations outside the door. The loudest screams of hatred, whistles and boos come from the audience in the hall. People demonstratively turn their backs on Golan during her performance. She focuses on the cheers, which always predominate. "There are so many people who support me." But what is bitterly noticeable: ESC artists are also turning their backs on Eden Golan. This is new and unexpected.
Nemo also sad
"I have to say that this whole experience was really intense and not just pleasant. There were a lot of things that showed that it's not just about love and unity, and that made me really sad," says Nemo about the tensions of this year, which are linked to the Gaza war and the many thousands of deaths.
The fact that the world is no longer just rainbows and unicorns, even at the ESC, had already become clear days earlier when all the artists performed together in front of the press. Israel's admission is the main topic of all the questions put to Eden Golan. She does not receive any support from her colleagues.
A journalist asks the 20-year-old if she is worried about putting the other acts in danger with her presence. When Golan initially refuses to answer, she receives pressure from her colleagues on the podium. "Why not?" asks Dutchman Joost Klein, who had previously demonstratively buried his face under a flag. Golan replies: "I think we are all here for one reason and one reason only. And the EBU has taken all measures to make this a safe and unifying place for everyone."
Side blows from the Greek woman
Side blows from the Greek artist too. Conspicuous yawning, snoring noises, rolling eyes. Finally, the musician puts her head down on the table while her Israeli colleague has the floor. It doesn't stop at such rude gestures. Irish act Bambie Thug says in an interview when asked whether Israel's participation is a burden on the ESC: "It overshadows everything and contradicts everything that Eurovision is supposed to be."
Even before the start of the second semi-final, in which Israel has its ESC performance, the organizers - the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) - are taking a stand on the pressure from the public. They are "aware of the deep feelings and strong opinions that this year's Eurovision Song Contest - against the backdrop of a terrible war in the Middle East - has provoked". Opinions are legitimate and understandable. However, the decision to include Israel was at the discretion of the EBU. "These artists come to Eurovision to share their music, their culture and the universal message of unity through the language of music."
Threatening gesture against camerawoman
But that doesn't catch on. And as if this construction site wasn't enough, another one is added at virtually the last minute. Joost Klein ("Europapa") is disqualified. He is said to have made a threatening gesture towards a camerawoman who was filming him, even though he didn't want to. On the final evening, the Dutch and other Klein fans take revenge by booing and shouting against the elegantly dressed ESC boss Martin Österdahl, who in normal years is completely unmolested and happily introduces the scoring ceremony high above the audience - the heart of the ESC. His voice is barely audible, it is so loud in the hall. He is joined by Israel's opponents: every point for the country is punished with boos.
Anyone who has watched the ESC on TV for many years knows that the EBU likes to have complete control over the image that its most important Eurovision project projects to the outside world. In the past, whistles and boos have been toned down with little microphone tricks, for example in the context of Ukraine and Russia. The camera work traditionally likes to block out anything unpleasant: Protest posters, angry faces and unpleasant opinions.
The fact that this no longer works in this day and age should be a lesson for the ESC 2025 in Switzerland. Winning act Nemo will certainly be part of the show again then. "I really hope that Eurovision will and can continue to stand for peace and love in the future. I think a lot of work still needs to be done on that," says Nemo - the replacement trophy next to him.
©Keystone/SDA
Spanish 
English 
German 
French 
Arabic