Controversy and Triumph: Eurovision 2024 Recap

Nemo, representing Switzerland with the song “The Code,” emerged victorious at the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) held in Malmö, Sweden. With a remarkable score of 591 points, Nemo secured Switzerland’s first win since 1988, when Céline Dion claimed the trophy. Germany’s contestant, Isaak, with his performance of “Always On The Run,” landed in twelfth place out of 25 finalists, breaking the streak of last and penultimate positions for Germany in recent years.

Isaak graciously praised Nemo’s winning song, describing it as “really awesome,” during a press interaction. He expressed satisfaction with his own performance, attributing his success partially to a lucky charm—his son’s socks in his shoes during the performance. Despite feeling exhausted after the intense days in Malmö, Isaak looked forward to celebrating his achievement in the coming days.

However, the ESC final faced disruptions and protests, particularly directed against Israel’s participation and the disqualification of Dutch participant Joost Klein. The protests stemmed from an incident where Klein allegedly made an aggressive gesture towards a camerawoman, leading to his exclusion from the final. The Dutch public broadcaster (NPO) lodged a complaint with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) against Klein’s disqualification.

Anti-Israel protests marred the event, both inside and outside the venue, citing objections to Israel’s participation amidst the Gaza war. The situation escalated, leading to the removal of numerous demonstrators, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, from the protest area. Israeli singer Eden Golan faced a mix of reactions during her performance, with instances of cheers and boos from the audience, reflecting the divisive sentiment surrounding Israel’s participation.

Despite the controversies, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz voiced support for Golan, commending her resilience in the face of hostility and anti-Semitism. Israel received the highest score of 12 points from the German television audience during the televoting, further highlighting the contrasting opinions among viewers.