Eurovision wird sich nie von dem erholen, was passieren wird
Von theipaper
Eurovision wird sich nie von dem erholen, was passieren wird
Von theipaper
45 Kommentare
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It’s so weird that not inviting Israel isn’t the default view. Literally not european in any way
EuroVision should not have members who have just re-introduced [the death penalty](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c202ngg45x8o).
Edit: And the downvote army kicks in instantly.
Eurovision is genuinely my favourite day of the year – better than Christmas, which is ironic given how shit we are at it.
I’ve been feeling fucking awful about watching it for a few years now due to the inclusion of Israel, and I’ve realised I don’t want to be complicit anymore – first time in 20+ years I’m not having a watch party. Fuck the EBU
EDIT: 50% downvotes! Wowee, hello shrill bots
They should have dropped Israel. Keeping it politics-free is a nice ideal, but unfortunately, politics are in everything and pretending they aren’t isn’t going to change that. While Eurovision is entertaining enough, if it never happened again, I think it would probably be a couple of years before I actually noticed.
RTÉ, the Irish state broadcaster, is showing the Father Ted Eurovision episode instead of showing the Eurovision.
The idea that a country which targets and murders journalists should be in an EBU contest is sickening.
Agreed, this, plus the Joost Klein incident, killed the contest for me. I also believe we should not ask for a boycott anymore, just let it die and become the irrelevant contest it deserves to be.
Eurovision was always a political crap anyway.
Voting was based on politics and not on talents. Like my country always voted for Moldova and Moldova always voted for Romania for example.
Never is such a long time, people should stop predicting things based on it. If we are honest, I doubt any of this will have unrecoverable consequences 10 years from now, and even if the current iteration of eurovision collapsed another would be made anew.
Seems weird to me that they banned Russia in 2022 but Israel are still allowed to take part? Just pick a stance and stick with it!
I just think it’s sad that more countries aren’t boycotting it. How much more flattened does Palestine need to become before people will take a stand? Imagine being a displaced Palestinian this weekend while you’re watching the Israeli entry dance around the stage and scam the telephone voting. There is a very real chance they will actually win it.
Full article: It was only three years ago that [Eurovision cha-cha-cha’d into Liverpool](https://inews.co.uk/culture/uk-finally-understands-eurovision-2334629?ico=in-line_link) for a spectacle that instilled the biggest sense of collective national pride since the London Olympics. The UK pledged [solidarity with Ukraine](https://inews.co.uk/culture/eurovision-2023-behind-scenes-ukraine-planned-bunkers-2335543?ico=in-line_link), the reigning winners who’d been forced to delegate hosting duties following Russia’s invasion. Alongside other competing nations, it reinforced the idea that yes, Croatian shock rockers, Czechian folk covens and Swedish pop divas, performing under what appeared to be a giant panini maker, can indeed bring people together. So much so that the European Broadcasting Union subsequently adopted the BBC’s slogan, “United by Music”.
Since then, however, “Divided by Politics” has become more a more fitting tagline, culminating in the biggest boycott in the event’s 70-year history. Five regulars will be notable by their absence when Eurovision 2026 kicks off at Austria’s Wiener Stadthalle tonight: joint-record winners Ireland and Big Five contributor Spain, alongside the Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia, [all in protest of Israel’s continued presence](https://inews.co.uk/culture/this-is-the-end-of-eurovision-4089408?ico=in-line_link) in the competition amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Of course, political protest at the event that prides itself on being apolitical is nothing new. In 2009, Georgia withdrew after refusing to change the lyrics to their hilariously unsubtle anti-Russia anthem “We Don’t Wanna Put In” (Put In, geddit?). Four years later, Finnish singer Krista Siegfrids challenged her home country’s laws prohibiting same-sex marriage by kissing her female backing dancer in a wedding dress. And as Israel stormed to victory in 1978, Jordanian TV cut from the final voting results to a picture of daffodils, later declaring – in a display of propaganda that would make Kim Jong-Un proud – that runner-up Belgium had triumphed instead.
Most notably, Iceland’s electro-goth outfit Hatari used their televote reveal in 2019 as an opportunity to wave the Palestinian flag, an act of defiance which the EBU punished with a fine. Since the outbreak of the conflict, though, Eurovision has discovered financial penalties are of little deterrence.
While the 2024 contest in Sweden was one of the most progressive, with a record number of openly queer acts, it was also the most politically charged. Firstly, over 2,000 Nordic artists put their names to an open letter opposing Israel’s inclusion. Then a bunch of celebs (which appeared to have been drawn randomly from a hat) including Dame Helen Mirren, Gene Simmons and this year’s unlikely San Marino competitor Boy George, signed a petition in favour of the opposite. Israeli competitor Eden Golan was forced to tone down the pro-Israel rhetoric of “Hurricane” after its original incarnation (titled “October Rain”) was deemed to reference the [October 7 attacks](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/how-october-7-attacks-changed-uk-relationship-israel-3310717?ico=in-line_link).
As the build-up officially got underway, things got decidedly ugly. Joost Klein – the big-suited Dutchman whose happy hardcore banger “Europapa” was tipped as a potential winner – was at the centre of the first furore. Soon after challenging Golan at a press conference, he was [thrown out of the final](https://inews.co.uk/news/dutch-eurovision-entry-joost-klein-pulled-from-final-3051786?ico=in-line_link) following an alleged altercation with a camera operator. As the Swedish authorities launched an investigation they later closed due to insufficient evidence, rumours started surfacing he may have been deliberately sabotaged.
[Bambie Thug](https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/bambie-thug-irish-eurovision-act-years-3046766?ico=in-line_link), the non-binary “ouija-pop” star whose entry “Doomsday Blue” deservedly achieved Ireland’s highest finish since 2000, also went through the mill. Not only did they incur the wrath of the Irish Freedom Party for making a “mockery of our national culture”, they were also subjected to an online witch hunt, forced to remove the pro-Palestine messaging scrawled on their body and allegedly subjected to repeated incitements of violence by an Israeli broadcaster. “The EBU is not what the Eurovision is,” Thug later claimed following her lack of support from the powers that be. “F**k the EBU.”
Indeed, many contestants that year talked about their Eurovision experience as if they’d returned from combat. The UK’s [Olly Alexander](https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/olly-alexander-pearl-clutching-eurovision-insane-3516402?ico=in-line_link), who’d faced criticism for signing a letter describing Israel as an “apartheid regime”, advised any future entrants to seek a good therapist. Switzerland’s winner Nemo, who has since returned his trophy in response to Israel’s participation, admitted his victory was tarnished by loneliness. Meanwhile, Norwegian metal band Gåte claimed they – alongside several other acts – were so disillusioned with the behind-the-scenes drama they nearly pulled out at the last minute. “This wasn’t the Eurovision we wanted to be in,” they said.
Friendly reminder that the EBU also banned fans from bringing in EU flags into the arena. Fuck the EBU.
ESC used to be my favourite event of the entire year, it stood for european diversity and a common struggle for peace, wealth and culture.
Now it’s enabling and supporting genocide.
Fuck the EBU and Fuck Eurovision.
„Anti-booing technology was used during the performance of Israeli singer Yuval Raphael in 2025“
After COVID, with Måneskin’s victory and later worldwide success, Eurovision gained a momentum that was exciting to watch… only to throw it all away by mismanaging artists and audiences in order to serve propagandistic genocidal interests. Such a pity.
Just make a rule that breaking international law or having an ICC arrest warrant out for your leader disqualifies you from the damn contest. Criminal countries should not be allowed to participate end of story.
I hope Israel wins, which will be the final nail in the coffin of the Eurovision.
Im so far ahead of the trend on this one.
Probably won’t be watching it this year tbh. Eurovision always had its political turmoils over the years, but this whole thing with Israel is never going away and overshadows everything year after year. I just don’t care anymore.
I wish Felicia good luck. She deserves a good placement.
Eurovision hasn’t recovered from 2024.
– Israel’s entry was clearly political, against the rules of the competition
– Israel’s entrant was Russian, which felt like a toddler pushing boundaries
– Israel clearly gamed phone voting, hence RAI „accidentally“ showed the disproportionate votes in the semi
– Israel were spamming Youtube all night with ads to vote for their entry, which goes against Eurovision rules
– Israel’s contingent filmed entrants when they were coming backstage, which goes against Eurovision rules
– Israel’s state broadcaster was outright harassing certain entrants, especially Bambie Thug, which goes against Eurovision rules
So what did the EBU do? Kick out the Dutch entrant.
-Boycott it, don’t let Israel in!
„Stop making it about politics!“
-Support and vote for Israel!
„Stop making it about politics!“
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
It’s wildly believed by the Eurovision community that Israel receives preferential treatment by the EBU as an Israeli company is the Contest’s major sponsor.
For example, the Netherlands were disqualified after Joost pushed away a camera filming him mourning in a no-filming area (he’d just come off the stage singing a song about his deceased father). Meanwhile the Israeli delegation were filming other entrants in the bathroom and the broadcasters were inciting violence against them and only received a verbal slap on the wrist.
The fans are also immensely unhappy about the vote rigging on Israel’s part. It’s turned the Contest from ‚which song will win‘ into ‚what song will get enough jury votes to prevent Israel ballot stuffing the televote‘. It sucks all the fun and excitement out of the Contest, and after 3 years of this corruption it’s starting to show.
The EBU has completely lost the trust of its fanbase from all the corruption going on behind the scenes, it’s heartbreaking to see what should be a show about unity and joy rotting away into this horrible mess.
Eurovision is dead, Israel and it’s supporters killed it. They ruined it for all of us. Now it’s a platform for Israeli artists and their crew to bully European artists like Joost and the Irish singer.
Eurovision is a shitshow now and I blame the Eurovision fans who defended Israel but we’re happy to kick our Russia and Belarus. They divided the community, made it political and sided with murderers of children.
A country that plays the voting system to influence the outcome to try and wash away their genocidal and sadistic wars and acts of aggression should never be part of anything related to music, sports, arts or any respectable union/organisation.
It’s disgusting this genocidal country is allowed to be at Eurovision. If we ban Russia we should ban Israel. I am proud my country decided to boycot this edition.
I hope Eurovision never recovers after this. To prioritise a genocidal state that’s not even based in Europe over heavyweight, established Eurovision countries like Ireland and the Netherlands… well, you make your bed, you lie in it. And to treat Israel differently to Russia is laughably hypocritical. I used to watch Eurovision religiously every year for the last 20-odd years, but I will never be watching it again after how they’ve handled this situation.
Eurovision being more about politics than music? Colour me surprised, who would have expected that. It’s not like this is something recent.
I just find it funny how nobody cared about Russia participating while the wars in Chechnya were going on and hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed.
Before anyone accuses me of defending Israel, I think they should be banned.
The ESC has run its course, a long time ago actually. From its ashes I would love to see a European Union Song Contest, that’s exclusive to the 27 EU States. And have some rules and regulations in place to make it feel classier again by toning down the gimmicks, focus more on actual songwriting and live vocals, and encourage native languages/cultural identity more.
As if Eurovision has any significance at all, its long since not a show of talent but rather bs politicized and I guess lgbt heavy show for no particular reason with just show instead of talents.
Good
Very sad that the EBU is taking this route, and that so few national broadcasters are boycotting.
Why is Israel even in a European singing contest? I see a big map of Europe in the sidebar. Can someone show me where Israel is on that map?
I’ve watched Eurovision for decades. Let be honest, I’ll think less of anyone who tunes in this weekend. How hard is it for you to put on something else to watch when the competition openly endorses a bloodthirsty genocide state that has done nothing but display hostility towards a huge number of European member nations? Israel is an albatross around America’s neck. Why does it have to be around ours too?
Israeli companies are the biggest financial supporters of Eurovision so Israel isn’t going anywhere and Israel’s involvement makes it political. The article fails to mention this.
Follow the money, the answer is always at the end.
This is a reason why any world contest being a sports competition or a singing context should have clear rules on participation (which they do not which results in a political discussion every time something that might feel wrong for some or for all happens).
Sounds difficult but in fact is very easy to have things written down as: „participant countries that have death penalty, are directly involved in wars, have EU sanctions on human rights basis or support regimes as such will not be allowed to participate or will have their participation voided“.
Why they don’t do that? Because money, influence and power is all this organisations care about. Everything else is purely collateral.
Israel bots downvote me softly
Was just in Venice and the Bienalle Art festival (not as well known as EV but a HUGE thing if you are an art person – which I am not) is seeing the same level of drama. The entire jury resigned in protest of allowing countries accused of war crimes to participate.
Congratulations to the countries who are not taking part this year, because of being on the right side of humanity.
OP why share paywalled content? I just don’t get it
Israel isn’t even *in* Europe.
Feels like a very easy solution to many of these problems is to just not invite Israel
Fuck Israel and the IDF, they can go to deepest pit of Hell