DutchEurovisioncontestant Joost Klein has been disqualified from the song competition show before its Grand Final on Saturday.
An incident occurred after last Thursdays performance," the statement began.
At that moment, Joost repeatedly indicated that he did not want to be filmed.
Joost Klein representing Netherlands during the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.Getty
This led to a threatening movement from Joost towards the camera.
Joost did not touch the camera woman.
This incident was reported, followed by an investigation by the EBU and police.
Yesterday and today we consulted extensively with the EBU and proposed several solutions.
Nevertheless, the EBU has still decided to disqualify Joost Klein."
The statement continued, “Avrotros finds the penalty very heavy and disproportionate.
We are very disappointed and upset for the millions of fans who were so excited for tonight.
What Joost brought to the Netherlands and Europe shouldnt have ended this way.”
The EBU did not immediately respond toEntertainment Weekly’srequest for comment.
Onlookers first noticed something was amiss during the first dress rehearsal at Malmo Arena in Sweden on Friday.
The singer’s props were set up on stage when someone with the production instructed them to be removed.
Then his performance was skipped over, and Israel’s entrant Eden Golan took the stage.
“His performance from Semi Final 2 will be used instead.”
The Eurovision Grand Final will now proceed with 25 participating songs.
The event is set to begin Saturday at 9 p.m. CEST.
The finale begins airing at 3 p.m. EST in the United States and Canada.
TheEurovision websiteincludes a list of broadcasters.
In the U.S.,Peacock will stream the event.
This story has been updated to reflect Klein’s disqualification from Eurovision.
