Sweden Ends Criminal Probe of Dutch Artist Ousted from Eurovision Contest

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Swedish prosecutors announced on Monday the closure of an investigation into Dutch artist Joost Klein, who faced eviction in May from the Eurovision Song Contest due to alleged threats against a female member of the production team.

Klein, a 26-year-old performer, captured public attention with his quirky track “Europapa” and was initially seen as a strong contender in this year’s Eurovision, hosted in Malmo, Sweden.

According to Sweden’s Prosecution Authority, the incident in question involved Klein making a movement that inadvertently struck a woman’s film camera. The episode unfolded rapidly and elicited varied perceptions from witnesses.

“Today I have closed the investigation because I cannot prove that the act was capable of causing serious fear or that the man had any such intention,” senior prosecutor Fredrik Jonsson explained in a statement.

Representatives from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the annual event, and Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS, have not yet provided comments in response to the closure of the investigation.

This year’s Eurovision concluded with Swiss rapper and singer Nemo taking the victory with his diverse and dynamic performance of “The Code,” a unique blend of drum-and-bass, opera, rap, and rock elements.

Source: Reuters