Photos: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU

Eurovision 2024 will go down as a contest like no other, but not in a good way for many of the competing artists. Following the conclusion of the show, Lithuania’s Silvester Belt and Ireland’s Bambie Thug have spoken out about the trauma they have gone through whilst participating amongst the crisis surrounding Israel.

Silvester Belt: “I wish it all ended after the first semi”

After a strong result in semi-final 1, finishing fourth, Silvester Belt was ready to proudly wave the Lithuanian flag at the Eurovision grand final. However, any joy soon turned to despair once dress rehearsals began.

Producers placed Lithuania at spot #7 in the running order, immediately after Israel. As expected, and was already clearly seen during semi-final 2, the crowd reaction to Israel’s participation was not pleasant. Boos during the Friday evening jury show were particularly loud, and continued into Saturday’s performances.

In a post on X after the grand final, Silvester noted that being the punching bag for Israel’s participation in the grand final turned his dream of performing at Eurovision into a nightmare.

“Going after that country, with the crowd being so intense, was one of the worst things I had to go through, I really did the best that I could in this situation…traumatic experience, wish it all ended after the first semi”

Bambie Thug: “The EBU is not what the Eurovision is. F*ck the EBU.”

Bambie Thug’s time in Malmö proved to be particularly hurtful for the star. This includes an urgent incident before the grand final dress rehearsal that caused Bambie to miss their performance.

Numerous videos emerged online of the Israeli delegation and senior journalists from KAN (Israel’s competing broadcaster) harassing other competitors and delegations, including Ireland’s Bambie Thug, and filming them without consent. It is against the law in Sweden to record private conversations when you’re not a participant or by accessing the conversation without authorisation.

During KAN’s broadcast of semi-final 1, Israel’s commentators belittled Bambie Thug, calling on viewers to send curses and foul words to the singer. In an Instagram story, Bambie noted that the Irish delegation reported this to the EBU, who agreed it was a breach of contest rules. No official statement has yet been made on what, if any, penalty may come from the rule break.

In an interview immediately after the grand final, Bambie brought their criticism of the EBU to the forefront. They stated that the morals of the EBU were not representative of what the contest should stand for. Instead, they highlighted the contestants who had been calling for action behind the scenes and celebrated Nemo’s victory as a representation of queer visibility.

“I’m so proud of Nemo winning. I’m so proud that all of us are in the top ten that have been fighting for this sh*t behind the scenes, because it’s been so hard and it’s been so horrible for us. I’m so proud of us.

“And I just want to say, we are what the Eurovision is. The EBU is not what the Eurovision is. F*ck the EBU. I don’t even care anymore. F*ck them. The thing that makes this is the contestants, the community behind it. The love, and the power, and the support of all of us is what is making change. And the world has spoken. The queers are coming. Non-binaries for the f*cking win.”

Whilst walking through the Malmö media centre, Bambie Thug was asked by Sky News about the “total chaos” that Eurovision 2024 appeared to descend into.

In response, they again called out to the queer family they had built around them whilst at the contest. Bambie added it was poignant that the Top 6 of the contest (except one — implied to be Israel) were all championing freedom.

“It has been chaos. But you know what, I have an incredible group of queer friends and thankfully my favourite non-binary won the competition and I’m so proud of us all. And the top six, minus one, were all freedom fighters and I adore all of us.”

What do you make of Silvester Belt and Bambie Thug’s comments? Does more need to be done to protect the artists at Eurovision? Let us know in the comments.

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Chupacabra
Chupacabra
4 months ago

The mentioned ones had their chance because of EBU, they did their job, they will B forgotten in European context., so their whining is in vain. Hope, they will continue to have success in their countries. Glad to have heard that Austrian delegation did endorsement to Israeli delegation and Eden.

Robert
Robert
4 months ago

I stand corrected for shouting riggory with Irish votes to Israel. They gave them 7 points last year and holy shi* they even gave points to Ben Michael David 2 years ago (that is the biggest crime of the century).

Darren
Darren
4 months ago
Reply to  Robert

We are truely sorry.

Axel
Axel
4 months ago

– All these comment sections need to be cleaned up from all hate speech, name calling (ON ALL SIDES, don’t accuse me of anything), and people who did that should be (at least temporarily) banned from posting. Please do something, a Eurovision blog should not become hate central.

Axel
Axel
4 months ago
Reply to  Axel

As well, don’t forget to include all kinds of hate, including obvious misgendering and homophobia. Won’t be a lot of posts left….

Darren
Darren
4 months ago
Reply to  Axel

You say it’s from all sides but the examples of hate that you use are from one side in particular, everytime.
Not pulling you down or anything but if you’re going to call it out just call it out. It’s not both sides. Or Atleast not everyone.

Mor Cowbell
Mor Cowbell
4 months ago

No need to resort to pejorative name calling. Not cool.

Sal
Sal
4 months ago

I honestly thought Bambi was some spoilt gen Z’er, was shocked to find out she’s 30 with all this behaviour… including demanding that Eden move hotel rooms because they were next door to each other. And all this talk of ‘love and peace’ and she just acts like a complete B the whole week. Smh. Ironic everyone is criticising the EBU so much too. Look guys, the only reason we have Eurovision is because of the EBU. They make the rules. When artists sign up to perform, they also sign up to the rules so if they don’t like the… Read more »

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
4 months ago
Reply to  Sal

When did that hotel incident happen?

Robert
Robert
4 months ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

in Tel Aviv 1999

brobb
brobb
4 months ago

Boo hoo, I had to perform directly after a country I don’t like. And boo hoo, a country I openly hate qualified for the final and did better than I did. Both of them are ridiculous.

Azuro
Azuro
4 months ago

Diddums

Dans
Dans
4 months ago

RTE have released viewing numbers for Saturday’s final, appropriately enough they were 666,000 (54% audience share), highest since 2018.

Nadiia
Nadiia
4 months ago
Reply to  Dans

666 thousand is a joke, or real?
Lol

Dans
Dans
4 months ago
Reply to  Nadiia

Not joking, it’s the viewing figure RTE have released

Nadiia
Nadiia
4 months ago
Reply to  Dans

lol

FizzPunk
FizzPunk
4 months ago
Reply to  Dans

So their hex spell worked??

Dawid
Dawid
4 months ago

KAN’s trolls took over comment section?

Despicable Annie
Despicable Annie
4 months ago

Bunch of crybabies. Pathetic behavior to play the victims while someone else was the one clearly being bullied – and yet, she dealt with this entire situation with class.

Paul
Paul
4 months ago

G3nocidal Barbie knew exactly what she was doing, I wonder how many kids she’s going to k!ll this year. Fvck her, fvck Israel and fvck the EBU.

Dane
Dane
4 months ago
Reply to  Paul

Relax. Eden is not in the government

Nadiia
Nadiia
4 months ago
Reply to  Paul

Exactly, Bambie T. has gen.ocidal feelings, putting a picture of themselves on instagram hexing the 6 point blue star.

Stian F
Stian F
4 months ago
Reply to  Paul

Noone is lying! Eden is supposed to go to IDF soon isn’t she…so she will definitely take some children lives… thats what they do…

BiCHOTA
BiCHOTA
4 months ago

Such a childish and pathetic attitude from both Silvester and Bambie. Especially from Bambie, who has done blood rituals (or so she has said) and heavy stuff like that.

Patrick
Patrick
4 months ago
Reply to  BiCHOTA

She is a narcissist. A spiteful , bullying narcissist who is now cry bullying in a desperate attempt to hang on to her few seconds of attention. Back to obscurity she goes.

Rory
Rory
4 months ago

IsHeil lost, please get over it hahahaha

Sal
Sal
4 months ago
Reply to  Rory

Jerry Heil?

Emkay
Emkay
4 months ago

Step off fascist.

Paul
Paul
4 months ago
Reply to  Emkay

Calling you fascist scum isn’t denying your freedom of speech.

Axel
Axel
4 months ago
Reply to  Paul

Bani – You’re the one resorting to name calling in all your posts. Against other members of this community, against artists etc.

Emkay
Emkay
4 months ago
Reply to  Paul

You post so much, I know you care more than anyone.

jbc
jbc
4 months ago

Well said both of you. The inclusion of an Israeli act fomented nothing but ill will and chaos. It can’t have been good for Eden Golan’s mental health either.

Nadiia
Nadiia
4 months ago
Reply to  jbc

You are worrying about Eden? Lol
I think she would have felt worse, if all those bully’s and boycotters would have won and she would have been excluded from the contest.

Eden seems like a strong young woman.
It must have been very hard and stressful for her,
the dea.th threats and all those loud immature booings by grown-up men trying to disturb her act.

but sometimes things like these only make you stronger.

Silvy
Silvy
4 months ago

Did the comment section here completely forget what the Israeli delegation was doing the entire time or are we already trying to forget 2024’s edition happened? When members of another country’s delegation is posting threats, harassing you not just in person but also in their own broadcast? Yeah, you have the damn right to voice your issues with it.

Emkay
Emkay
4 months ago
Reply to  Silvy

Unfortunately the Eurovision blogs are being flooded with conservative scumbag trolls who are only here to push their politics and care nothing about ESC

Axel
Axel
4 months ago
Reply to  Silvy

I want to believe it is bots that are flooding the comments section… Or there are a lot of incredibly racist/homophobic and really just stupid people following wiwibloggs…

Axel
Axel
4 months ago
Reply to  Axel

Yes seeing the share on votes on each comment changing suddenly it looks like the troll factory is working full steam. – can you do something about that? There is obviously something fishy when all of a sudden the share of likes/dislikes totally changes for all posts.

salomon the sardine
salomon the sardine
4 months ago
Reply to  Silvy
  1. Joost admitted that he made threat hitting Swed worker. (Nothing to do with blaming all the bad things in the world because of Jews)
  2. Lets see what other delegation did:
  3. Bambi and her friends ignoring Eden and making laugths while Eden was speaking.
  4. Joost cover his face while Eden was speaking
  5. The greek teen-woman fell asleep
  6. boo Eden while she sings
  7. didnt want to be in the same place with Eden

And after that Bambi said she was trumataized LOL
So maybe you forgot or just didnt want to see

Sal
Sal
4 months ago
Reply to  Silvy

Still waiting to see evidence of these ‘threats’ from the Israeli delegation.

PP77
PP77
4 months ago

It’s funny coincidence Ireland result in final
6th in televote, 6th with juries and finished on 6th place.

Seddik
Seddik
4 months ago
Reply to  PP77

And 666.000 viewers in Ireland.

Patrick
Patrick
4 months ago
Reply to  PP77

And about 6 people will be at her concert next year. Wow coincidence?

Paul
Paul
4 months ago
Reply to  Patrick

They’re playing the main stage of Download festival this year, there’ll be tens of thousands there.

Nadiia
Nadiia
4 months ago
Reply to  PP77

No coincidence.
This year, the 37 Eurovision acts looked like a song battle between
– angels/pure singers,
– demons, witches and face masks,
– and clowns.
Just like in real life and the real world.

The side of sub 2, they concentrated on voting for one of them, so by coincidence or not, they reached that triple 6 number.

Marcus
Marcus
4 months ago
Reply to  PP77

Yes, this is so funny and of course there’s an “important message” behind all this. How old are you – twelve?

CarlosM
CarlosM
4 months ago

Not a single performer was forced to participate. No one held a weapon to their head to sing. The instant they knew Israel was going to participate, they could’ve not participated.

It was uncalled for them to lump all LGBTQIA+ into the same mindset. They’re many LGBTQIA + who had no problem with Israel participating in the Contest.

Silvy
Silvy
4 months ago
Reply to  CarlosM

I don’t think they expected Israel to harass them. That important piece of context is pretty important to remember but sure, let’s just pretend Israel’s delegation did absolutely nothing.

Brk
Brk
4 months ago
Reply to  Silvy

But they did nothing….the only thing they did is simply existing. The video of journalist asking “what wrong with joost” is simply journalism and finding a scoop. If it was any other journalist no one would bother show it.

The one who record Bambi in his phone wasnt the only one there doing it. And she yelled on him alone.

This is a form of antisemitism and it is not acceptable!

Seddik
Seddik
4 months ago
Reply to  Brk

Yeah, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Keren Peles, the writer of the Israeli song, posting on Instagram that Joost is not worthy of the air he breathes.

Pollaski
Pollaski
4 months ago

Pathetic main character vibes from Lithuania.

And Bambie brought every ounce of that on herself. She could have just focused on her own act and trying to win, but instead she had to make pretty much her entire experience on hating another act, and being unable to handle even the slightest bit of pushback.

The fact that act she devoted herself to hating just beat her out for the last top 5 spot is deliicous.

Alex
Alex
4 months ago

I’d have appreciated if the delegations had protected the artists and had been more vocal to the EBU and via social media. Do some sort of protest guys. Hatari had big balls to wave Palestinian flags in tel Aviv

Dane
Dane
4 months ago
Reply to  Alex

Non participating flags are not allowed so sit down

jbc
jbc
4 months ago
Reply to  Dane

So you didn’t notice the massive Canadian flag? They actually stopped EU flags, which is just bizarre.

Despicable Annie
Despicable Annie
4 months ago
Reply to  Alex

Hatari had no balls in doing so AFTER the voting had been closed. If they really wanted to make a statement, then they should’ve done it in another moment. There was no bravery to their action.

Nadiia
Nadiia
4 months ago
Reply to  Alex

Hatari waved the flag only in the Greenroom after the votes were in…

Marcus
Marcus
4 months ago

Well, maybe some people would also describe some performances as traumatic and horrible.

Alex
Alex
4 months ago
Reply to  Marcus

UK, Spain and Finland had traumatic and distasteful performances and they all flopped.

Aha
Aha
4 months ago
Reply to  Alex

Getting to the finals and getting 44 votes from public is flopping to you?

UK, though, you are probably right about, that wouldn’t even have made it to the finals if it had to qualify.

Dane
Dane
4 months ago

there has been bullying and harassment on both sides. Both by the Israeli delegation, but also by the participants who have collectively ignored Eden Golan, just because she is from Israel

Alex
Alex
4 months ago
Reply to  Dane

Eden Golan was isolated in her hotel room for security reasons so sit down.

Dane
Dane
4 months ago
Reply to  Alex

she was not isolated the whole time? I have seen her talking with Tali

Darren
Darren
4 months ago
Reply to  Dane

Tali was probably the only deemed acceptable person to mix with because well….

Safe choice really

jbc
jbc
4 months ago
Reply to  Darren

precisely: Tali was brought to Eden; otherwise Eden was sequestered. Awful for her.

Dane
Dane
4 months ago
Reply to  Darren

again many of the other participants ignored her existence and I will call that bullying

Darren
Darren
4 months ago
Reply to  Dane

I call that taking a stand

Dane
Dane
4 months ago
Reply to  Darren

you don’t take a stand by collectively ignoring someone just because she’s from a specific country. it’s just bullying

Milan
Milan
4 months ago

Crucify me now, but Bambie, of all people, complains that she found performing alongside someone else at ESC traumatic! I voted for her and would do so again, but I just can’t stop laughing at this ! 🙂

Jonas
Jonas
4 months ago
Reply to  Milan

There was nothing traumatic about Doomsday Blue. It was an act. The offstage trauma was real.

Milan
Milan
4 months ago
Reply to  Jonas

Say that to those under (say) 15 who watched the show 🙂

Aha
Aha
4 months ago
Reply to  Milan

What kind of weak-ass kid is traumatized by such a performance? I’d have loved that as a kid.

Alex
Alex
4 months ago
Reply to  Milan

sure jan you voted for her, yet you just offended her.

Milan
Milan
4 months ago
Reply to  Alex

Oh yes I did, and I still would, I’ve never seen a song so elevated by the performance. I don’t see the offense. You say she was not aiming at being (very, very) scary?

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
4 months ago

Just visiting eurovision 2024 I feel kind of numbed… you could almost say traumatized by everything that happened.

Jonas
Jonas
4 months ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

I’m sorry this happened to you.

Ellen
Ellen
4 months ago

Honey, I love you but the community couldn’t even host 1/100 of the contest. The EBU organize Eurovision for almost 7 decades now. Don’t be disrespectful to the organization that gave you a visibility and a voice. In the Middle East and sole countries in Asia, you wouldn’t even appear on TV and be silenced forever. So keep it cute.

Alex
Alex
4 months ago

The EBU should have thought about this long beforehand and brought in a rule where a country can’t compete if they can’t carry out the requirements of a winner through safety concerns, I.e. hosting the next year’s event. That would have excluded Israel and Ukraine, may be unfair on Ukraine but they have entered for three years now knowing it is not safe to hold the event in Kiev or wherever.

Adrian
Adrian
4 months ago
Reply to  Alex

It would be easier if they allowed artists from countries like Russia or Israel to participate but not representing their countries, likey they do in the Olympics when a country is sanctioned by the IOC.If they win other countries can bid to host the contents and that’s it. By doing it this way “united by music” could be actually true.

Alex
Alex
4 months ago
Reply to  Adrian

Interesting idea, but I don’t think it would work as there would still be hostility between the contestants. As much as I support Israel, I do think they should have withdrawn this year to avoid the bad feeling around the contest. Personally I would have water cannoned Thunberg and the rest of the rabble. But if Israel had have withdrawn then the rabble wouldn’t have been there. I just hope for a happier contest next year with less narcissistic artists so far up their own hoops they can see out of their mouths, and also less indecent performances (and I… Read more »

jbc
jbc
4 months ago
Reply to  Alex

And the problem with the Olympic approach is that Putin’s régime still pressures gold medallists to appear at rallies and other political events. Ditto artists. But Kan is independent and none of the Russian broadcasters are anymore.

jbc
jbc
4 months ago
Reply to  Alex

It needn’t: Australia can’t host, they have to provide a plan to host with a co-sponsoring broadcaster in the EBA. Effectively that’s what Ukraine has to do now as well. I suspect KAN wouldn’t agree to it, however.

Alex
Alex
4 months ago
Reply to  jbc

That’s why I stipulated not being able to host due to safety concerns. Not being able to host due to the time difference (Australia) or not having a big enough arena (San Marino) is fine.

Alex
Alex
4 months ago

Traumatic? Poor dears, they have no idea what trauma is. Trauma is going to a music festival and being murdered. Trauma is being taken hostage in your country and being held by people who want the death of your people. Trauma is what the families involved are going through now. The pathetic Bambie Thug and Silvester (and the rest who were horrible to Eden) make me want to vomit.

Darren
Darren
4 months ago
Reply to  Alex

Trauma is being carpet bombed, trauma is being detained without trial, trauma is children seeing their parents gather the pieces of their siblings body in a plastic bag after an air strike, trauma is seeing mass graves on the grounds of bombed out hospitals, trauma is being crushed under the rubble of a collapsed building, trauma is being starved to death because the occupation won’t allow aid in, trauma is seeing the video circulating today of people actually tearing the aid off the back of trucks and destroying it, just so it won’t be delivered, trauma is being so hungry,… Read more »

Rory
Rory
4 months ago
Reply to  Alex

Trauma is children waiting desperately for food and supplies while settlers burn the aid trucks and throw the food to the side of the road.

Rory
Rory
4 months ago
Reply to  Rory

Ask the government to bring them home, they could don it tomorrow if they wanted. But they don’t and they won’t , because as soon as the war is over Netanyahu loses his power

Nadiia
Nadiia
4 months ago
Reply to  Rory

Darren, Rory,
So we all agree that Silvester and Bambie Thug complaining and calling a little bit of stress at Eurovision ‘a Trauma’ is ridiculous.

Darren
Darren
4 months ago
Reply to  Nadiia

I can’t speak for someone else’s mental health, only they know how they feel. If they felt it was traumatic for them, we have to respect that, as we don’t know. However their statements seem to be confirmed by other acts speaking up too

But my comment is relation to the butchery that’s taking place right now in g@z@ by Israel. The lives of Palestinians there is traumatic due to being unfortunate to have a neighbour like Israel.

BiCHOTA
BiCHOTA
4 months ago
Reply to  Rory

The ones burning the aid and supplies are H4m4s, they’ve even killed kids and women desperately attempting to take some of it

Nicolas
Nicolas
4 months ago

If some want exclusion of countries evolved in a war. Well what will happen if some European countries send army troops in Ukraine ?
And the Armenian/Azerbaijan conflict ?
Ukraine also would feel betrayed if excluded. Israel didn’t start the war too, they have been attacked and they are now responding.

Darren
Darren
4 months ago
Reply to  Nicolas

Their response is incredibly disproportionate

But you knew that. They’re only Arabs and Muslims though eh?

Darren
Darren
4 months ago
Reply to  Darren

Speak words or don’t speak at all.

Make it make sense.

Darren
Darren
4 months ago
Reply to  Darren

Yawn yawn

How much is Bibi paying you chicken?

Seddik
Seddik
4 months ago

It’s hard to keep politics out of Eurovision and I do have an opinion about what’s happening. But that aside, the Israeli delegation and press have behaved absolutely horribly towards other participants. Their behavior would have been enough grounds for sending them away. Also if I look objectively at the quality of the Israeli entry, I must conclude that it did not deserve second place in the televote. It’s mid-table at best. Yes, we also saw a sympathy vote for Ukraine 2022, but that song would also have been a frontrunner under normal circumstances. And Ukraine seemed to enjoy support… Read more »

Brk
Brk
4 months ago
Reply to  Seddik

They didnt behaved horribly. it is classic antisemitism. They were under huge microscope. Everything they done, even something mundane as taking pictures, seen as horrible act while other delegations did the same without any problems.

Seddik
Seddik
4 months ago
Reply to  Brk

Really, every little criticism of Israel is now anti-semitism? They DID behave like jerks. It was all there for all of us to see with our very own eyes, because they did it publicly on their (social) media.

Nadiia
Nadiia
4 months ago
Reply to  Seddik

Part of them are sympathy votes ofcourse (and that was a big statement of support, from different sides in politics),
but my neigbors told they voted for Israel (the mother and the children) because it was the most beautiful song and stage, and the boy liked the angels.

Dr. Fergal Sherlock
Dr. Fergal Sherlock
4 months ago

Update from Malmo police… Reads like a ‘lunge’ at a nuisance camera person who refused to stop filming when asked. I don’t like intimidation but you have to factor in the adage ‘you reap you soe… Karen’. Of police hadn’t been involved pre-EBU the. It would likely have not even been heard of. Sounds like a ‘Tuesday’ for most incidents. ‘The tabloid Aftonbladet said, citing an unnamed source, that Klein at one point became stressed by all the photographers and asked them to stop filming. When one photographer got close, he raised his arm with a fist and lunged at… Read more »

Dr. Fergal Sherlock
Dr. Fergal Sherlock
4 months ago

PS: do police really have to be involved in this nonsense… They have hard enough job to deal with real incidents.

Davie
Davie
4 months ago

Re read what you have just written. “You reap you soe (sic) Karen.

so it’s ok to threaten to hit a woman if she was “asking for it”.

My God, it’s like #Me Too or equality never happened.

Dr. Fergal Sherlock
Dr. Fergal Sherlock
4 months ago
Reply to  Davie

It’s nonsense. Adults take responsibility for their part in any incident. ‘Karen’s don’t’.

Dr. Fergal Sherlock
Dr. Fergal Sherlock
4 months ago
Reply to  Davie

And I’d be pretty confident you couldn’t give a fiddler’s about the actual #metoo movement unless it suits your spiel.

Davie
Davie
4 months ago

And you know she’s a Karen right. I mean she must be. She complained. Women shouldn’t do that should they.

you weren’t there. She was. The police interviewed other people who were there.

obv you’re right. If she was a middle aged Karen it’s totally ok. They are just so awful those women aren’t they. Of course you know nothing about it and she might be a 22 year old out of Uni.

but she’s only a woman and she was probably asking for it.

Patrick
Patrick
4 months ago

So lunging and swinging a fist at an actual woman doing her job is nothing. But humurous commentary and so-called.”misgendering” an obvious attention seeking bully is “violence” and should lead to exclusion? Make your minds up

Dr. Fergal Sherlock
Dr. Fergal Sherlock
4 months ago
Reply to  Patrick

I’m only one person. I only have one mind. I expressed it; clearly, and with reasoning, but please, keep posting. Your buddies will cream themselves.

Patrick
Patrick
4 months ago

Israel did not.poison the show. Their entrant got up and sang without any political gestures. It was Bambie Tick and her ilk , desperate for attention who made all the noise.

Anna
Anna
4 months ago
Reply to  Patrick

She wasn’t doing her job, she was breaking EBU rules when she continued to film after Joost said no.

Seddik
Seddik
4 months ago

Why does the Swedish police have an opinion? Shouldn’t it be a public prosecutor who decides whether Joost Klein will be prosecuted? The police’s task is just to conduct an objective investigation, this sounds like they’re really biased. I think it’s fishy. Especially because Swedish criminal law prof. Dennis Martinsson told a Dutch newspaper that the chance of a conviction is small. You’d think that’s a guy who would know. And again, Dutch Eurovision officials stated very firmly that hardly anything has happened. They wouldn’t do that if they were not certain of their case, it’s also their heads on… Read more »

Jofty
Jofty
4 months ago
Reply to  Seddik

They could make a new series of The Bridge (799 episodes), carry out a full investigation and interview all contestants under duress. They could handcuff those Spanish dancers to ensure they kept their pants on. Jane Fonda could play a younger Petra Mede.

Seddik
Seddik
4 months ago
Reply to  Jofty

lol

Well, Österdahl is also a thriller author (what can’t this man do?!). Maybe we can offer him the position of head writer of the show.

Mor Cowbell
Mor Cowbell
4 months ago

Pejorative name calling is never nice.

A Jo
A Jo
4 months ago

Ban this, cancel that. Till when? Are you 12 years old or what? I am not saying you shouldn’t be angry. Feelings are feelings and everyone has the right to feel. Feeling angry is adequate for the things that Israel is doing. But bcz Israel is committing crimes, doesn’t justify your mistreatments against their artists or sportsmen. Switch the roles and put yourselves in her shoes. Now if you come and tell me “no, if I were her I would not represent my country, etc.” then you are imposing your perspective on her, you are not really imagining yourself what… Read more »

FizzPunk
FizzPunk
4 months ago

The chesspitt will be opened soon and we all will be delighted by how rotten the stench is into our noises.
Dont forget the true winners of this Contest.
And true ESC Royalities try not to stink!!

Bless You ALL.

Kosey
Kosey
4 months ago

48 hours after the event and I still can’t believe what they did to Joost. Totally, totally despicable.

FizzPunk
FizzPunk
4 months ago
Reply to  Kosey

Collegue artists of Joost making protests in their own style.
This is on dutch mainstream channels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCaqh-fqxpQ&t=76s

Kosey
Kosey
4 months ago
Reply to  FizzPunk

I’ve seen this with the English subtitles. Very apt!

FizzPunk
FizzPunk
4 months ago
Reply to  Kosey

Lets come together…………………..

Jonas
Jonas
4 months ago
Reply to  Kosey

Do you know the full story yet? What do you think an appropriate punishment would have been?

Kosey
Kosey
4 months ago
Reply to  Jonas

Nothing. The EBU did not have the full facts and still don’t have the full facts. It was not enough to take away his chance to perform on such a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity stage.

Davie
Davie
4 months ago
Reply to  Kosey

Have you read today’s news? The Swedish Police have spoken to independent witnesses and have decided they have enough information and evidence to prosecute.

the EBU were never going to comment about an ongoing Police investigation. It would have been wiser for AvroTros to also stay silent.

The EBU has information that you don’t have. Try to be more objective.

Kosey
Kosey
4 months ago
Reply to  Davie

Have you read the article? It says that the likely punishment is a fine for such “minor crimes”. It does not justify taking away the chance to perform on such a stage.

Davie
Davie
4 months ago
Reply to  Kosey

Because if threatening a woman but not actually hitting her only gets a fine it’s totally OK.

do you think threatening woman with violence is OK?

Kosey
Kosey
4 months ago
Reply to  Davie

Not sure what a “woman” has got to do with it. Who was threatening who in this situation? Do we really know? Is it enough to take away this opportunity for him?

Davie
Davie
4 months ago
Reply to  Kosey

I think the Police are best placed to decide that. That’s why they investigate and interview witnesses before making a decision.

if you don’t understand the difference between a man threatening another man and a man threatening a woman then I really worry for you. The law in most countries treats these differently. I don’t know about your country.

you know nothing about this no matter how much you love Joost. You are totally unable to see this in a neutral way. Defending violence towards women is not a good look.

Kosey
Kosey
4 months ago
Reply to  Davie

How do you know what happened? How do you know what violence has been perpetrated? Why are you trying to put words into my mouth? The only point I am making is that the EBU was not in a position to make the decision that it made. The fact that the Netherlands broadcaster is supporting Joost is not a good look for the EBU on this matter.

sparkling points
sparkling points
4 months ago
Reply to  Kosey

I don’t think the EBU can override local enforcement/prosecution.

Brk
Brk
4 months ago
Reply to  Kosey

Literally being filmed was the reason Joost was angry and did what he did…*Filmed* *camerawoman* lol you have the perfect evidence…..

ATLANTIC
ATLANTIC
4 months ago

Political debate on NRK (Norway) this evening. Eurovision described as a sinking ship. Questions raised: Who would want to host the contest after this year’s experience? What kind of artists would like to participate in the future? How to conceive new rules that may be able to ban countries like Israel, which is conducting an aggressive war.

Paul
Paul
4 months ago
Reply to  ATLANTIC

EBU really needs to take this seriously and make positive changes. This year was a disaster and has ended up as a serious wake up call, it could have been so much worse too.

Dr. Fergal Sherlock
Dr. Fergal Sherlock
4 months ago
Dr. Fergal Sherlock
Dr. Fergal Sherlock
4 months ago

*felt

Dr. Fergal Sherlock
Dr. Fergal Sherlock
4 months ago

PS: I love that there just happened to be 666k viewers at the final, she came 6th in semi and 6th in the final, and was 6th in the odds. That’s a lot a 6’s 🙂

#spooky

Dawid
Dawid
4 months ago

Had no real opinion on Israel as a country. Until i saw how they act. No need for one or another propaganda. Just look what they do on daily basis. Fvck that country and fvck that broadcaster and their puppet. Go have your own competition in middle east.

I’m not talking about religion here.

habahaba
habahaba
4 months ago

oh, so sensitive

Vjera Brdar
Vjera Brdar
4 months ago

SAVAGES! BAN, BAN, BAN!

Patrick
Patrick
4 months ago

Two obvious bandwagon jumping attention seekers. They cant handle that their 3 minutes are over. Back to obscurity they go

Jonas
Jonas
4 months ago

In 1998, the Greek composer had his access pass removed and he had to watch the contest from his hotel room. Couldn’t something like that have happened here?

Ari
Ari
4 months ago
Reply to  Jonas

I feel like the BBC just threw him out because he annoyed them with his demands but honestly, the camera work on Greece actually proved his point, they made Greece look really bad. His tantrums in the documentary were quite hilarious, though. I forgot if he actually violated any rules.

Jonas
Jonas
4 months ago
Reply to  Ari

I mean, he was totally right. In that case, Israel were for sure getting special treatment with the camerawork. Poor man, I actually felt sorry for him. I hope he is doing well.

Ari
Ari
4 months ago
Reply to  Jonas

They were totally gaslighting him. The song was never gonna go very high but I actually liked it.

Paul
Paul
4 months ago

“We regret that some delegations at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö didn’t respect the spirit of the rules and the competition both onsite and during their broadcasts, We spoke to a number of delegations during the event regarding various issues that were brought to our attention. The EBU’s governing bodies will, together with the heads of delegations, review the events surrounding the ESC in Malmö to move forward in a positive way and to ensure the values of the event are respected by everyone. Individual cases will be discussed by the event’s governing body, the Eurovision Song Contest Reference… Read more »

Paul
Paul
4 months ago
Reply to  Paul

Just an awful empty apology.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
4 months ago
Reply to  Paul

When was this posted?

Epicurean
Epicurean
4 months ago

So wait, they banned the European flag at the EURO song contest!?

EBU have completely lost their purpose and soul!

Axel
Axel
4 months ago

I hope RTE will support Bambie Thug and make sure KAN is held accountable. Banning KAN should be a no brainer. Note that I do not say ban Israel. If they had another broadcaster member of the EBU and ready to play by the rules then maybe some different arrangement could be found. But KAN as a broadcaster should be banned.

Jonas
Jonas
4 months ago

EBU can now ban Israel, a five year suspension… whatever… delegations can not behave like this and get away with it. G a z a does even come into it anymore.

Jonas
Jonas
4 months ago
Reply to  Jonas

G a z a does NOT even come into it anymore

Ari
Ari
4 months ago
Reply to  Jonas

Ban the whole country because of one or two people, really? Why not ban the specific people who misbehaved?

Jonas
Jonas
4 months ago
Reply to  Ari

That could work. Although would you say the same about the cheaters of 2022? Romania etc. Just ban the delegation members involved or kick out the whole broadcaster for five years?

Ari
Ari
4 months ago
Reply to  Jonas

That’s tough. When I can clearly attribute violations to certain individuals, I can punish them. When it’s the organisation itself who can’t be trusted as a whole, well, maybe a ban us the only option indeed.

Dawid
Dawid
4 months ago
Reply to  Ari

One, two or 90% of delegation. Come on. They banned country based on rumors and these are redorded

Elisheva
Elisheva
4 months ago

They are there victims? Them? Not the poor girl who received death threats and was bullied since before she ever set foot on the stage? The girl who handled it with such grace and maturity that few people have? Stop perpetuating antisemitic vitriol, Wiwibloggs. I’m disgusted by you this year.

Robert
Robert
4 months ago
Reply to  Elisheva

The girl that is joining IOF to go ki*l some babies?

Alex
Alex
4 months ago
Reply to  Elisheva

Grace and maturity is when you call for ceasefire now.

Patrick
Patrick
4 months ago
Reply to  Alex

No that’s called uninformed virtue signalling. Much like the pronoun bandwagon that attracts all these attention seekers

Axel
Axel
4 months ago
Reply to  Patrick

Dear Patrick – please… you cry about antisemitism in all your posts but you obviously have a problem with the LGBT community… Which is a big part of what makes this contest what it is.

Jofty
Jofty
4 months ago
Reply to  Axel

You forgot the Q and the I. Consider yourself “cancelled” (whatever the hell that means).

Axel
Axel
4 months ago
Reply to  Jofty

Keep your sarcasm to yourself.

Thorula
Thorula
4 months ago

They weren’t force to participate. Of course letting Israel in was probably not the right way to do things. But once you know the game, you could have left it.

Darren
Darren
4 months ago
Reply to  Thorula

These situations happened after they agreed to participate.
Such as the comments made by KAN.

Raul
Raul
4 months ago

Poor Bambi . You put a satanic show absolutely horrible and people can not play with your image. I’m a bad girl but people can not take photos of me . Ai ai ai

Wake up

Darren
Darren
4 months ago
Reply to  Raul

Sour

Dawid
Dawid
4 months ago
Reply to  Raul

Lucifer was the most beautiful archangel. They’d rather have white dress, long hair and fake smile.

Whisker
Whisker
4 months ago

That day was unfortunately a teacher in so many ways, and there should probably be a “before-” and an “after-” October 7 in terms of what a “personal challenge” really means.

Marlinken
Marlinken
4 months ago
Reply to  Whisker

Typical Israeli self-obsession: “it wasn’t real until we experienced it”. For Palestinians, it’s been October 7 since 1947. But of course that doesn’t matter. It’s only when it effects Israelis that its the worst thing to ever assail humanity. The universe does not revolve around you, no matter what your rabbis may tell you.

BiCHOTA
BiCHOTA
4 months ago
Reply to  Marlinken

And for many people subjected to Arab colonialism it has been like that since way before 1947

Sal
Sal
4 months ago
Reply to  Marlinken

Don’t think that’s what rabbis tell people but go off

Robert
Robert
4 months ago

Sorry Silvester but stop being a drama queen and playing the victim card (let’s leave that for Israel). Crowd was more than welcoming and warm towards you both Friday during the jury show and Saturday grand final. We cheered from start to finish and outside top 6 you got the biggest ovations.

Raul
Raul
4 months ago
Reply to  Robert

Poor boy . Imagine if you sing while people. Boooooo you . You would call and run for mama

salomon the sardine
salomon the sardine
4 months ago

Even Ireland doesn’t believe Bambi’s fake declarations.
The real win is when Ireland gave Israel 10 points!
Maybe that was the real trauma. LOL 🙂

Marlinken
Marlinken
4 months ago

There’s a huge conservative backlash happening across Ireland at the moment, across all of the West actually and shameless people exploited that by presenting Isra*l as an “anti-w o k e” vote.

salomon the sardine
salomon the sardine
4 months ago
Reply to  Marlinken

So wake up. Marina the Greek 37 years old is still asleep. LOL

jercle
jercle
4 months ago
Reply to  Marlinken

Absolutely, it was right-wing “anti-w oke” vote.

Jonny
Jonny
4 months ago

In case of Silvester Belt it’s not the EBU to blame but the booing crowd.