An independent investigation — launched on behalf of the EBU — is assessing the “unsafe working atmosphere” that allegedly took place in Malmö during Eurovision 2024.
According to a report on Dutch TV programme RTL Boulevard, the investigation comes after the EBU received at least 13 complaints from various delegations after the Eurovision Song Contest.
As part of the independent investigation, investigators will interview members of Eurovision delegations — and with the option for people to remain anonymous. We can safely assume this is to make people feel more comfortable. Many will have professional or personal relationships with the alleged offenders — whoever they may be.
Norway’s Head of Delegation Stig Karlsen spoke with RTL Boulevard’s entertainment reporter Aran Bade and confirmed Norway is in talks with the EBU. He said:
”The EBU reached out to us positively, inviting us to evaluate ESC 2024 from our perspective. Representing NRK, I have already shared our experience and concerns with an external representative hired by the EBU.”
“We have every intention of participating in ESC 2025, but it depends on the actions the EBU will take to ensure that we do not face another season filled with polarization, politics, and security concerns.”
Eurovision 2024: Independent investigation looking into unsafe working atmosphere
The Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS lodged an official complaint with the EBU about an “unsafe environment” prior to their act Joost Klein being disqualified on the day of the grand final.
Joost, of course, was disqualified because of the EBU’s commitment to its zero-tolerance policy towards inappropriate behaviour at their event. Yet the Dutch team felt it had already witnessed inappropriate behaviour at the event before the Joost brouhaha.
The Dutch broadcaster expressed through news site NU.nl that their complaint was based on experiences that happened before the country’s disqualification and they filed a complaint on 10 May, one day before the grand final. Although AVROTROS did not provide specific details about the details for their complaint, they acknowledged that they “recognise the picture” described in complaints made by other artists and delegations.
According to RTL Boulevard, Switzerland, Ireland and Portugal are among the other delegations to issue formal complaints. The Dutch broadcaster is currently considering its response to the independent investigation.
Separately, Wiwibloggs have been told that it’s likely Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl is maintaining a low profile during this investigation.
The delegation who caused these issues won’t have repercussions, I guarantee that, sadly, people get now do what they want and think it’s okay.
As someone who works in education, I’ve been worried about the dumbing down of the population for some time. And the spreading of false narratives. I get no hope of any improvement from reading most of the comments here. What is so difficult to understand that equating Russia’s cause for expulsion with Israel is simply incorrect? It’s a competition of broadcasters not states. Russia’s broadcaster was kicked out for breaking fundamental rules of the EBU. It was not directly linked to Russia’s invasion (even if some of that rules broken later included false propaganda about the war). Remember, Russia first… Read more »
2024 was for sure the worst Eurovision ever!
From a production standpoint.
Song wise, it was one of the finest.
I only wish there were more ethnic sounds like before…
Some wise words from Dolly Parton:
“If you want to get the Rainbow, you got to put up with the rain…”
The Israeli delegation were obviously and publicly acting like nasty, spoilt brats because they knew they had daddy Germany and MoroccanOil backing them up. The fact that a delegation member can say about Joost “he doesn’t deserve to breathe near us” and get no consequence, shows that Eurovision cannot be fixed because money always wins. The disrepute will be remembered for years. No one buys that the EBU will investigate itself properly.
Can the EBU really have Israel on the ticket next year considering it’s leaders are up for arrest warrants for war crimes at the ICC?
I don’t think ICC’s arrest warrants would make EBU disallow Israel to compete in the contest. They repeatedly said that this is a contest between broadcasters, not governments.
i don’t care about what those corrupt fascist money lovers in the EBU have to say anymore
hoping many things will go wrong with next years contest, karma for the ebu
If it is between broadcasters and not governments why is Russia not in?
Among other good reasons because Russia doesn’t want to be in. They have left the EBU on their own and without a member broadcaster can’t return any time soon.
Maybe people who work at KAN should stop participating in those atrocities then or cheering it on or generally pushing the same hardline violent rhetoric the government under an arrest warrant is being judged for then. You can’t blame your government for their misdeeds if you support all of those misdeeds and cheer it on.
sorry disagree, as soon as Putin was on this list, they were banned in sports, arts, entertainment you name it they were banned and still are. Europe recognises the ICC, Israel is not in Europe, geographically and politically.
Their broadcaster, KAN sure tried to create division at the contest this year, surely they should be reprimanded.
Not to even mention the behavior of the relation.
Fully sure the EBU will let them in, because they’re terrified, for some reason, to upset them
Delegation **
Of course Israel can take part
They should investigate jury voting criteria and jury bank accounts..and maybe basic music education
Trust me, every year people complain about jury vote but nothing really happens in the end.
My son and I booked our hotel in Malmo well before the Israeli/Gaza conflict and when we arrived discovered that the Israeli delegation was staying at our hotel. While every performer deserves to be safe, the security at the hotel was heavy handed and intrusive. The Swedish police were polite and accommodating to guests, even with the preponderance of them and their assault rifles, but the Israeli security was oppressive and intrusive. While sitting in the lobby, which is a public space, they followed me to the bathroom and later inspected my iPad. They also inspected a food bag that… Read more »
It seems in today’s world stupidity rules… What exactly are they going to investigate? Why some countries delegations behave like children now? If they had issues they could have withdrawn…
Ragequitting the contest is childish actually.
As if Ragewhining AFTERWARDS is very adult behaviour
It’s better to stand your ground, use your voice and try to change it from the inside, rather than not being there and being ignored
100% agreed. And as far as us fans are concerned we should keep on doing that.
Absolutely. It’s the only way to bring about change and get the folks like the EBU to even acknowledge their problems.
We can’t all live in blissful ignorance
Change what?
Most Eurovision fans dont know their nose from their as.s… of course you Will cry and whine, this is all you do. You pretend you are fighting a Big war or something stupid. If you dont like It just force your country to withdraw.
You can be inside and decide to be outside which Will really make an impact and not all this whining AFTERWARDS…
Why should they be bullied out because others can’t behave?
Others Who?? This is so childish, so absurdly childish… I admit that Isreali delegation has a rather childish behaviour but most of the other delegations behave exactly the same… Ones provoking and the others responding to those childish provocations…
Everybody is pointing fingers and throwing blame everywhere. I hope we get a detailed report that is published publicly so we finally have a clear full picture about what happened this year.
“the EBU investigated itself and found that EBU did nothing wrong”
must feel lovely how they can love themselves more than anyone else PUKE
In the meanwhile new music by Joost, the blue bird is back “luchtballon”
It’s so obvious that this comment section is flooded with bots to dislike anti-Israel comments and like pro-Israel comments. There has never been so much engagement during off-season.
It’s also obvious since all Pro-Palestine artists were queer that Pro-Israel people try to stir up anti-queer sentiment. We see what you are doing.
Yup they’ve flooded the downvotes.
Only means one thing, they’re insecure and they know we are right
Right about what?
I mean bots voted for her, bots are disliking the comments here. Like they think that will change something. Now when I see 20 dislikes on my comment it honestly makes me happy.
Me too, I take lots of downvotes as a sign I’m on the right path (but apologies, I did upvote your comment.)
I down voted your comment to show support lol
Seems that all our comments are changing anything either…(isn’t it?). I wish Eurovision would come back to live orchestre and real voices (as done in San-Remo rather than what is done in Melfest)… but I don’t think it will happen… (so all sort of comments here are simply hollow and just like “full gas in neutral” – a lot of noise but the car in not moving).
Bots your brains… I voted for her. I am no bot. Just Accept reality.
I thought the trouble makers were claiming to be non-binary. If someone is neither a man or a woman (well, pretending to be) how can that person be queer?
Another comment by Patrick targeting NB people…. How is this hatred allowed on here?
How is stating facts and asking a question “hate”? You’re just stalking me and using cry bully tactics.
PlEASE CAN THE MODERATOR INTERVENE. THIS PERSON (“DARREN”) IS STALKING ME ACROSS THESE BOARDS, CONSTATNTLY MISREPRESENTING WHAT I HAVE SAID AND IS BOTH ABUSIVE AND INCITING ABUSE TOWARD ME .
lol it’s a free comments forum where anyone can reply. Perhaps if you stopped posting stupid s h!t I would ignore you.
You are harassing and you know it. Hopefully a moderator will ban you.
2 comments, one of which is a reply and you’re calling me harrassing? lol
Who even are you? Hopefully a moderator will ban you.
PlEASE CAN THE MODERATOR INTERVENE. THIS PERSON (“DARREN”) IS STALKING ME ACROSS THESE BOARDS, CONSTATNTLY MISREPRESENTING WHAT I HAVE SAID AND IS BOTH ABUSIVE AND INCITING ABUSE TOWARD ME .
He actually does have a point though. If you are neither male nor female then how can you be queer? It doesn’t make sense.
Because queer by definition is: “ denoting or relating to a sexual or gender identity that does not correspond to established ideas of sexuality and gender, especially heterosexual norms.” or being strange odd -therefore not the stereotypical roles.
Hence why someone who is neither make or female is the very definition of queer.
No, your definition was introduced like 4 years ago lol.
Queer is a word of uncertain origin that had entered the English language by the early 16th century, when it was primarily used to mean strange, odd, peculiar or eccentric. By the late 19th century it was being used colloquially to refer to same-sex attracted men.
Queer is anything that is not the heteronormative or homosexuality, Non-Binary, Asexuality etc etc
What I can’t understand is someone on TV “dating” show here with their d*ck out, non-binary if you please, yet “heterosexual”. No wonder all these poor women do not wis share their spaces.
*wish
Is that “dating” show still on? Thought that finished ages ago, ew.
The money must be good.
Can we go back to when Turin’s broken sun was the contest’s biggest issue?
Or the stage floor in Paris in 1978 being too slippery.
Yes please
Don’t forget Cliff Richard taking a valium in 1973.
They should investigate the fraudulent jury votes instead.
who cares about those irrelevant songs and results, so shut up
How can they all vote the same and it not be fake?
Something was definitely off with it.
Always a ray of sunshine.
Please never evet leave these boards lol.
They let eurovision be used as a propaganda tool to be used to glorify war crimes. Too little too late if you ask me. They have the blood of thousands of innocent children in their hands.
The ESC has lost its way. Songs don’t count for much any more, it’s all about strange fashions, promoting alternative, gender confusion and grandstanding. I’ve been an avid fan and follower since 1986, but this year was my last. I’m out. Much like singing talent and fair voting. All gone.
I want to know who is doing the investigation. They always say it’s “independent” but what does that mean? Is it a law firm? Private investigator? EBU HR Department? Who does independent investigations?
Mrs Osterdahl lol
It’s just shocking the EBU still haven’t uploaded the opening peformance by Eleni/Eric/Chanel all because The EBU got triggered by Eric Saade’s keffiyeh.
I often think of Eric Saade as representing the people being killed. I guess it makes EBU uncomfortable.
Here is Saade. Eric Saade.
Representing P a l e s t i n e.
Representing the burned
the battered
the starved
the abused
That’s what he does.
That’s who he is.
I sometimes wonder if he still has family there, alive.
Don’t spread lies. It was uploaded. You can find it in the live stream video.
Don’t play du*b.
Izrael Broadcasting Deserfs To Own The Eurowision Because They Know Class And Human Dezency Unlike This Satan Worshipping Troll
Bejba, who did you wote for at the Eurowision?
NURSE!
I don’t think Joost, Israel, Bambie etc. is the problem but rather what Eurovision has become…. artificial, very expensive, recorded voices, producer “choices” (??) – what the h*ck is that?… Over commercial to my taste. I wish Eurovision would go back to its roots – Music with live orchestra and real voices as well as being a family show like it used to be in the past (when my passion to Eurovision started as a kid). Unfortunately in recent times, the competition is becoming more about how the performers looks and awe the public rather than the song… (I’m loosing… Read more »
I totally agree with you I think that the eurovision should go back to just the singing and nothing else
Totally agree!
I know what you mean but how would GO-A sound with a live orchestra?
Sanremo did a rock song (Måneskin) with an orchestra and it was magnificent.
I agree 100 percent about getting it back to being a family show. Of course gays love Eurovision but they are a very small part of its demographic and it isn’t a Pride festival. Some of the performances wernt too far and were lfrankly ewd and crude (ie UK).
So it should go back to being irrelevant? Sure if you want it off the air in 2 years. The media landscape changed, it’s not the 1970s anymore. The contest how it was back then would not survive.
I agree. The Eurovision controller by Osterdahl and organized like a bigger worldwide Melfest is a cheesy plastic one. Just like the plastic pop we get nearly each year from Sweden. Or the fake IKEA furniture.
The pre-recorded backing vocals are destroying the contest. It’s clear that so many artists are using them as lead vocals. So it might become like team orders in F1 or on-court coaching in tennis, in that the EBU will eventually say “It’s happening and we can’t stop it so we’re making it legal.”
The playback vocals have to go. I do support allowing some vocal effects that can not be recreated live but only as exception like it was done before. Other than that, anything that can be dome by a backing vocal should be done live.
Latvia had a great song and performance. Yet many commentators were upset that it qualified as the “staging” was too dull. Buttock-free or no men in a toilet, I suppose. Your point exactly.
Simple next year all artists sign a contract saying they accept the participation of all listed countries.
Don’t accept it, you’re not going to Zurich.
Israel has been recruiting supporters in every European country and paying them large sums of money to persuade as many people as possible to vote for Israel to win. This is an unprecedented disgrace. If this is proven, which I hope it will be, Israel should be permanently banned from Eurovision.
Do you have any proof?
“If this is proven, which I hope it will be, Israel should be permanently banned from Eurovision.”
Reading with understanding is something you should have learned long time ago.
I voted for Israel because I thought it was easily the best song. Mr Netanyahu didn’t call me to have me vote. Nor was I paid. How do you suppose Israel tracked down all these millions of people to bribe? And how come nobody has come forward to say they were approached for this?
So you’re just spreading unproven Anti Israeli propaganda until it might or might not be proven?
Ban israel
And let me just add that pic of Bambie with the devil dancer is my absolute fav still from this year’s contest. So poetic.
Please. It’s just the cheesiest Satanic chic since Alice Cooper. Nothing original or shocking. Yawn
Overall, this is great news.
I’m trying to be understanding about this whole mess not being an isolated incident as in the case of Joost. Still, not disqualifying Israel is a big stain on the ESC and the EBU. They did let it go too far.
Frrst thing first, Israel NEEDS to go.
EBU looking into it is like Israel ki*ling civilians while they are waiting for food and water and them saying “wE wilL dO iNteRNaL iNveStiGAtiOn iNtO iT”. Not to be trusted that anything will come out of it.
100%
I have my doubts how independent this will actually be but let’s see
Israel should not have been allowed into the contest this year. It made it already political just because they were there. All delegations felt uneasy with this while so many people were killed meanwhile by a participating country. There is only one major conclusion the ebu can make: that it was a mistake to allow Israel to participate in 2024.
I’ve been watching the contest since 1992. It breaks my heart to see the contest come what it has become.
1981 here 🙂 I second every word you’ve written.
Everyone knew before the national selections that the EBU had decided to allow Israel to participate. Artists had the choice to not represent their country this year if they did not agree with that decision. Broadcasters xould also have not participated. But of course serial attention seekers like Ireland’s artist and the Swiss artist wanted to have their cake and eat it. They wanted their 3 minutes of exposure so of course did not boycott (as that would be personal detriment to them) Instead went along, got drunk on the attention they received and deluded thenselves they were more imporrant… Read more »
Very that. Like why did they act brand new on the very last week of Eurovision? Israel confirmed its participation in March. They had all the time to withdraw instead of creating themselves an intense and resentful environment towards the Isreali delegation that led them to make them p*ssed off. Make it makes sense.
Every one assumed that the EBU had a bit of conscience and would withdraw permission for Israel to participate knowing the level of massacre they were and are carrying out in Gaza.
Not to mention the bad mouthing and incitement to hatred by their broadcasters during the live broadcast of the contest.
I reckon it merits a permanent ban for israel
Of course you mention Ireland and Switzerland yet again.
Your hard on for them is beyond obvious.
Your obsession with them is so toxic.
Build that bridge and cross it
I refer to them because they were the leading perpetrators of the hatred and disruption which creates the toxic environment. As I stated , they are hypocrites. They knew Israel were participating so could have sat this year out. But of course, as with all cry bullies they didnt actually care enough to do something that would cause them detriment. Instead they went along desperate for attention, virtue signalling and behaving in an obnoxious fashion about and toward a uiung woman who was just there to do what they were doing.
By signing a statement expressing desire for a ceasefire they have become perpetrators of hatred? Have you even seen the video evidence of them being harassed by members of the Israeli delegation and press? Have you heard the comments from KAN during the live shows? Are they supposed to just ignore that because it’s Israel? Or is it just because they’re NB and that makes you feel uncomfortable that they should have stayed silent? The evidence is all there, but yet you keep repeating the same NBphobic thropes here and your obsession with Bambie is actually concerning. You really need… Read more »
Firstly they are not non-binary. There is no such thing. There is a genetic anomaly of intersex children but that is a mwdical condition, rarer than hen’s teeth and resolved by young adulthood. What the Irish entrant and the Swiss entrant were claiming is just a bandwagon that attention seeking individuals have leapt on to crwate the illusion they are interesting. . I am not obsessed with her (or anyone) . The discussion topic is about the toxicity at this year’s contest. She was a key archtect of that. Her hypocrisy and bullying of Ms Golan was despicable. Her incitement… Read more »
*homophobic.
Because you’re not personally non-binary doesn’t mean it’s not a thing.
Your attitude towards them reminds me of people who think being gay is a mental illness.
Which is ironic considering you’re gay too. So how come you should have the right to live without prejudice but those that are NB don’t?
I leap on your stupidity, and I will continue to. You are a walking, talking double standard.
No you’re not homophobic but you carry the same bigotry as those that are.
Where have I said anyone doesn’t have the right to live? To the contrary I have said they can pretend what they like, but they cannot force me to accept their delusion.
People would say being gay is a delusion too. Doesn’t mean it’s right.
I said right to live without prejudice by the way, not right to live in general. Perhaps read it again.
Well said. The identity politics madness must end: it won’t be long before the insanity blows over.
Joost brouhaha, that could be the title of a new Joost song;-)
I don’t have full faith in the EBU that they will follow through with any decisions or findings that come from this investigation.
They’ve shown themselves to be completely inept and highly unprofessional.
F**k the EBU
Well if it isn’t the consequences of EBU’s actions and decisions. We all knew a certain delegation would act the way it did, that came true, and the EBU ignored all the complaints. Hope more countries state that they might sit out 2025 if the EBU doesn’t fix the work environment (remove troublemakers)
Investigations take time to conduct and pursue and that last antisemitic bit wasn’t necessary. We will see how things proceed and what consequences will arise. Be prepared for any outcome.
There are other issues to fix first, the war in Gaza won’t be over, Moroccan Oil will still be a sponsor, the same goes for TikTok, which ruins the European character. And last but not least influenced voting. Nothing will change. I can see another, even bigger, mess coming, unless the EBU makes some huge changes. Starting with a zero tolerance policy for ALL participants.
Yeah… Israel will still be there next year.. don’t worry.. and I can see a “Top 5” finish again… mark my words 🙂
Not by merit but it could definitely happen.
of course since the israeli hod gets to suck osterdahl’s dick all the time UGH
The fox guarding the henhouse.
Good. We can’t have people threatening staff, or delegations pushing others physically for asking a question.
We can’t have it where someone is at such risk of being attacked for their nationality that they have to have armed guard.
@William… I told you those Bambie photos were ‘on-point’ and we’d see them everywhere ESC is mentioned going forward. Enthralling 🙂 @All.. Nice to see some movement in the background to address and reorganise the backstage workings of ESC. No roaming backstage media in the ‘working area’, break-out rooms/areas for media/artist interaction on-demand/to-schedule/with-consent, scheduled content creation with mild storyboarding between consenting artists etc. Formalize what has been taken for granted and abused; and ban the blatant rule breaking individuals who were deliberating breaking the rules (and local law) by rotating around other artists, publishing their rule breaking online for all… Read more »
*deliberately