Dutch artist Joost Klein ‘likely facing charges’ after being disqualified from Eurovision-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

Dutch artist Joost Klein is likely facing charges, Swedish police have said (Picture: AP)

The Netherlands’ Eurovision entry Joost Klein is likely facing charges, Swedish police have said.

The musician, 26, was shockingly axed from the 2024 Song Contest – which saw Switzerland’s Nemo win and the UK’s entry Olly Alexander come in 18th place – after a complaint of inappropriate behaviour.

Klein was set to perform, with all of his props waiting on stage at the Malmo Arena in Sweden, when it was announced just hours before the Grand Final that he had been kicked out, after a female production crew member made a complaint, with reports later claiming he was being investigated.

After the alleged incident, a statement was issued by Dutch broadcasters, who described his punishment as ‘disproportionate’ and explained the ‘investigation’ into Klein’s behaviour came from a ‘threatening gesture’ he made at the camera, having made it clear he didn’t wish to be filmed.

They said his desire to not want to be filmed ‘wasn’t respected’ and insisted he ‘did not touch the camerawoman’.

However, it has now been claimed that Klein will likely be charged for making illegal threats.

Klein was axed from the Song Contest just hours before the Grand Final (Picture: TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images)

The UK’s entry Olly Alexander finished in 18th place (Picture: Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images)

According to The Associated Press, Swedish police said on Monday that their investigation into the incident was over and a decision should come ‘within a few weeks’.

‘We expect there will probably be a prosecution,’ an officer in charge of the case told Swedish broadcaster SVT.

Details of the alleged incident or surrounding the threats Klein is accused of making have not been published.

It is also claimed Klein has already left Sweden, with unnamed sources telling Aftonbladet that he became ‘very stressed’ about the photographers and asked them to stop filming.

In a statement shared with Metro.co.uk, the EBU said at the time of his disqualification: ‘The Dutch artist Joost Klein will not be competing in the Grand Final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

‘Swedish police have investigated a complaint made by a female member of the production crew after an incident following his performance in Thursday night’s Semi-Final.

‘While the legal process takes its course, it would not be appropriate for him to continue in the Contest.’

A statement from the Netherlands’ Songfestival, which sends acts to the Eurovision Song Contest, also said on X: ‘An incident occurred after last Thursday’s performance. Against clearly made agreements, Joost was filmed when he had just gotten off stage and had to rush to the green room.

‘At that moment, Joost repeatedly indicated that he did not want to be filmed. This wasn’t respected. This led to a threatening movement from Joost towards the camera. Joost did not touch the camera woman.’

Despite Klein’s absence from the final, his song Europapa – which is a tribute to his late parents – has still managed to be the biggest gainer on Global Spotify of all the Eurovision entrants. (Picture: SplashNews.com)

‘VROTROS finds the penalty very heavy and disproportionate. We stand for good manners – let there be no misunderstanding about that – but in our view, an exclusion order is not proportional to this incident,’ it added.

Despite Klein’s absence from the final, his song Europapa – which is a tribute to his late parents – has still managed to be the biggest gainer on Global Spotify of all the Eurovision entrants.

It rose 93 spots to a peak of number 38 after 2.57million streams, reports Pop Base. The total streams on Sunday stood at just under 50million.

This year’s Song Contest was shrouded in controversy, with fans threatening to boycott and urging artists such as Years & Years singer Olly and Ireland’s Bambie Thug to do the same, over Israel’s participation in the competition amid the ongoing war against Hamas which has killed more than 35,000 people in Gaza and injured a further 78,000, in figures obtained by Al Jazeera.

Their has been immense backlash over Israeli entry Eden Golan performing in the Song Contest (Picture: Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images)

Klein and Golan appeared to clash at a press conference (Picture: Jessica Gow/TT/Shutterstock)

Klein appeared to clash with Israeli performer Eden Golan during a press conference last week, after he showed his discomfort at being seated next to her by covering his face with a Dutch flag, and later telling her she should answer a question on whether she is comprising the safety of other contestants.

A journalist asked Golan: ‘Have you ever thought that by being here you bring risk and danger for other participants and public?’

When the moderator told the 20-year-old Hurricane singer that she did not have to answer the question, Klein called out: ‘Why not?’

When elsewhere asked if his song can unite people by music, Klein replied: ‘I think that’s a good question for the EBU.’

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