Olly Alexander and other acts who did not need to compete in the semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest were due to speak to the media ahead of the Grand Final on Saturday, but will no longer be doing so
A media conference featuring the UK’s Olly Alexander and other acts has been cancelled by the Eurovision Broadcasting Union (EBU).
Olly and other acts who did not need to compete in the semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest were due to speak to the media ahead of the Grand Final on Saturday, but will no longer be doing so. It comes after the Netherlands’ Joost Klein was told he was not allowed to rehearse as an investigation was launched.
An email from the organisers read: “Please note that the big five and Sweden media conference originally scheduled for 18.30 (5.30pm BST) has been cancelled because all artists want to focus on rehearsals.”
Italy, Spain, Germany and France are also in the big five.
Klein has been stopped from rehearsing by organisers earlier on Friday over an unexplained “incident”. The Dutch singer did not perform in the show’s penultimate dress rehearsal in Malmo, Sweden on Friday, where he had been due to perform in fifth place ahead of Israel.
The EBU said in a statement: “We are currently investigating an incident that was reported to us involving the Dutch artist. He will not be rehearsing until further notice. We have no further comment at this time and will update in due course.”
Klein had been part of the flag parade at the start of the rehearsal, walking around the stage in full costume, but did not come out on stage for his scheduled performance around 30 minutes later. During a press conference on Thursday, Klein told Israel’s Eden Golan she should answer a question on whether she is comprising the safety of other Eurovision contestants by taking part.
A journalist from Polish radio outlet Newsletter asked Golan: “Have you ever thought that by being here you bring risk and danger for other participants and public?” When Golan was told by the moderator, Swedish presenter Jovan Radomir, that she did not have to answer the question, Klein chimed in, saying: “Why not?”
Golan replied: “I think we’re all here for one reason, and one reason only, and the EBU is taking all safety precautions to make this a safe and united place for everyone, and so I think it’s safe for everyone and we wouldn’t be here (if not).”
Earlier in the conference, when Klein was asked if his song can unite people by music, he replied: “I think that’s a good question for the EBU.” It has been reported by local media that he faced censure following another issue on Thursday.
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