Things are heating up in Lisbon and it’s not just the weather. Waylon, whose questionable staging has become a national talking point back in The Netherlands, once again finds himself at the centre of a storm. This time it’s for lashing out at a journalist from Dutch newspaper AD on the Eurovision 2018 blue carpet.

Yesterday Waylon took to Instagram to post screenshots of messages between his manager Sandra and AD journalist Stefan Raatgever. He used the social media post to announce that he would no longer speak with journalists from AD and De Telegraaf, the two leading newspapers in the Netherlands.

The screenshots show messages from November. In them Raatgever says he can’t deal with the way Waylon’s manager treated him and that he cannot envision a positive working relationship in the future. He alleges that it’s difficult to separate the truth from lies when speaking with her. The shots also show a message from Waylon’s manager telling the journalist that they could not disclose any information about Waylon’s Eurovision participation.

Waylon wrote: “What is this about? A frustrated AD journalist (who was the whistleblower last year) and finds himself very important and my management who is keeping a promise. You are allowed to judge for yourself…. But this is the start of it. Nobody calls (directly or indirectly) my management a liar! That’s why I wanted an excuse. My team is there for me and I am there for my team… Loyalty is often very underestimated.”

Things got even more heated during the Blue Carpet Ceremony on Sunday when Waylon encountered journalists from AD who wanted to interview him. Waylon refused and the conversation got heated fast. AD cameras captured Waylon using a series of expletives in English.

The video shows Waylon telling an AD journalist that he can’t stand the way they handle things and that they are not worth talking to. The AD journalist asks why he can’t do the interview, and explains that he can’t control what his colleagues say or write.

Waylon, however, says that if the journalist gets why he is pissed, he should tell his colleague: “You f*cked up, you dumb*ss! You f*cked up”, calling Raatgever a “little annoying fool” and someone who “cannot be anything other than negative.”

AVROTROS tells news outlets to be more positive

Waylon is clearly not happy with the negative criticism he has received from both De Telegraaf and AD. Raatgever wrote a very negative review of “Outlaw in ‘Em” back in February when it was first presented.

After all the controversy, AD and De Telegraaf responded to Waylon, effectively saying that he’s not able to handle criticism. De Telegraaf uploaded multiple videos on the topic, saying that “boycotting” certain outlets will only have a negative impact. One of the videos is titled “Look, Waylon, that’s also how you can do it!”, which features the Belgian representative, who is far more well-spoken and poised when dealing with critique.

AVROTROS has now backed their artist publicly over the negative content that the outlets produced. The broadcaster says that big outlets like AD and De Telegraaf should support the Eurovision entrant instead of pulling him down every single time they can. AVROTROS told De Telegraaf that they can’t force their artist to talk to outlets if he doesn’t want to.

Do you think Waylon is right to act this way or do you think he is a total diva? Let us know in the comments section below!

Read all our Netherlands news here

34 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Manon
Manon
5 years ago

Hahaha actually just saw the video with the AD journalist, im dutch.. waylon is stays respectful and i can totally understand what he is saying there. He keep the honour and respect to himself. What i see as a good thing.

Kimmie
Kimmie
5 years ago

Waylon has the right to react and say what he wants. He is just expressing his opinion. Like the press can say everything they want and the artist can’t? The rules of the game should be equal 😉

Sanne
Sanne
5 years ago

Being negative on the ESC seems to be a national sport in the Dutch media every year. So yes, I understand Waylons reaction. It’s a pity most Dutch people don’t know how much fun the event is, and that you don’t have to win to enjoy it.

fugu
fugu
5 years ago

Waylon is one of those artists that is great as long as you know nothing about him as a person. Then he becomes increasingly less fun to listen to.

Ally
Ally
5 years ago

So he wasn’t as* kisser to some lame ”journalist”? Such a crime, indeed..

André
André
5 years ago

I miss Ilse de Lange.

DyGh
DyGh
5 years ago

You can’t imagine how a belgian feels when the Nehterlands is filled with drama.
Switching roles it is 😉

Enzo Piccinato
Enzo Piccinato
5 years ago

When you have that king of performer and a mediocre song … You need any kind of publicity. Last year act was much more classy. This year is garbage and pure marketing.

Pastora Soler haha!
Pastora Soler haha!
5 years ago

Is he drunk????

esc1234
esc1234
5 years ago

oh gosh, he is so delusional…..

Dutchie
Dutchie
5 years ago

Waylon and the whole Dutch team are totally right in this case to boycot just these two particular ‘journalists’. They have been playing a nasty game for months now. An artist has to take criticism of course but why should he have to talk to guys that will put him down no matter what he says? The team already knows everything will be twisted into something negative so why bother anymore. Wish more artists would do this in our country against these two journalists who want every scoop or otherwise you as an artist are toast. It’s nasty. Véry nasty.… Read more »

Chance
Chance
5 years ago

What is it with the Dutch male artists being complete jerks?

Jim
Jim
5 years ago
Reply to  Chance

Not just Dutch male artists. The Netherlands is filled with arrogant, spoiled and anti socially behaving individuals. The atmosphere in the country is always tense (especially in the urbanized Randstand area) because of a particular national character. People think they can say whatever, whenever, however in the crudest and direct possible way. They praise their own and others’s directness, yet, most seem to be easily offended and on edge with one another the moment that directness is used. It might also be the result of a lack of space, the country is unhealthily crowded! However, it all has an effect… Read more »

LiekeS
LiekeS
5 years ago
Reply to  Jim

Wow. Just wow.

marcus (Day One)
marcus (Day One)
5 years ago

Jeez
He’s so full of himself

Javier
Javier
5 years ago

Eurodrama!

francix
francix
5 years ago

honestly there wasnt a need to share this. Pure gossip. Im sure Waylon wont like it………

francix
francix
5 years ago

this is how you get attention. take notes israel

IsraeliToy
IsraeliToy
5 years ago
Reply to  francix

we have enough, and a little more positive attention than fighting with reporters… but thx for caring

Aaron
Aaron
5 years ago
Reply to  IsraeliToy

Highkey you don’t

That’s why your odds are slipping x

francix
francix
5 years ago
Reply to  IsraeliToy

People said many negative things about your song and her wedding dress…js

Aaron
Aaron
5 years ago
Reply to  francix

which song? do you even know where I’m from?

francix
francix
5 years ago
Reply to  Aaron

I was talking to israelitoy –

M_K
M_K
5 years ago

Lena refused to speak to German tabloid Bild in 2010 and she received much praise for that because it was a statement against dubious journalism. Waylon’s story is a little confusing and seems to be more ego-based.

Dutchie
Dutchie
5 years ago
Reply to  M_K

These particular journalists are just total bullies. Believe me, in The Netherlands we had to read their nasty articles for months now. Totally understand the team decision not giving them any more of their time and energy. They are simply not worth it. Even other Dutch press understands the decision. 🙂

Sindy
Sindy
5 years ago

lol

Aaron
Aaron
5 years ago

Waylon is arrogant anyway. He isn’t interested in Eurovision, rather promoting his career.

Pavel
Pavel
5 years ago
Reply to  Aaron

He must be extremely deluded thinking Eurovision is the stage where he can promote his ”fake country” music.

Aaron
Aaron
5 years ago
Reply to  Pavel

Honestly, if Bebe Rexha get to number 1 with a “country” song that sounds more pop than anything, it’s a smart move

Mateo
Mateo
5 years ago
Reply to  Aaron

had he been interested in furthering his career he would have milked the common linnets for much longer than he did and would not have declined talking to the journalists of two of the Dutch newspapers.
Both steps are not great career wise but fit his character. He likes to do things his own way. He’s always done that and he won’t change it for Eurovision.

Aaron
Aaron
5 years ago
Reply to  Mateo

That’s why he will continue being a flop nobody

Mateo
Mateo
5 years ago
Reply to  Aaron

Have you heard him sing? There are not many people who can do what he does. He’s his own man can be very stubborn when he feels a certain way no matter what the consequences are. Ever bothered to listen to his song? He’s always been a bit of rebel. As for the issue with the two dutch journalists. Those two newspapers have an unhealthy desire to press artists in their moods and have them do as they please. He’s not playing their game and as a result they try to tear him down. Why would he talk to people… Read more »

I grid
I grid
5 years ago
Reply to  Mateo

I agree! This man has his own vision. Everybody knows that. Journalist were ridiculous stupid…. he is a great artist. You might not like it, but he dowsnt have to listen to that…

Enzo Piccinato
Enzo Piccinato
5 years ago
Reply to  Aaron

Carreer? 😉