Police in the Swedish city of Malmo were on Saturday investigating allegations of inappropriate behaviour which led to the exclusion of the Dutch singer Joost Klein from the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest.
Klein, 26, was barred from the competition less than 12 hours before he was due to go on stage with his entry Europapa.
On Friday night, he failed to appear for the dress rehearsal even though his props were set up on stage inside the Malmo Arena.
After a production manager ordered their removal, the running order moved onto Israel's entrant Eden Golan. The European Broadcast Union (EBU), which organises the annual competition, said Klein had been suspended due to a backstage incident.
On Saturday, the EBU confirmed he had been disqualified.
"The Swedish police are investigating a complaint lodged by a female member of the production team following an incident that occurred after her performance in Thursday night's semi-final," the EBU statement said.
"While the legal proceedings take their course, it would be inappropriate for him to continue to take part in the competition," the EBU added.
On Thursday, at the press conference following the semi-finals, Klein, said he was unhappy about being placed next to Golan in the running order.
The EBU said Klein's disqualification was not related to his attitude towards Golan.
"Contrary to what some media have reported and to what some speculations on social networks suggest, this incident (which led to his exclusion) did not involve any other artist or member of the delegation."
Favourites
While Klein's techno-pop song was considered among one of the favourites for the title, France's entrant, Slimane, will be trying to improve on the country's recent poor results.
France has not won Eurovision since Marie Myriam in 1977. In 2021, Barbara Pravi came second with the Edith Piaf-inspired Voilà.
La Zarra, from Quebec, finished 16th in 2023 and the Breton group Alvan & Ahez hobbled in second to last in 2022.
Slimane, 34, shot to fame after winning the talent show The Voice in France in 2016 and he has since sold more than 2 million albums.
“Representing France means a lot,” he told French broadcaster France Inter in November 2023 when he was picked to represent France at the 68th song contest.
“It's crazy. My grandfather came here to France from Algeria to work in a coal factory. He died because of that, and now his grandson is representing France with a song about romance and love à la française. I love that idea; I think it's beautiful.”
Although officially apolitical, this year Eurovision has been affected up by the war in Gaza with demonstrations around Malmo protesting against Israel's actions.
