Eurovision 2024: Hello Grand Final… For the last time?

The semis are done and dusted, and it seems like the Contest itself might be as well. 

It’s the morning of what should feel like The Big Day but we’re still suffering from an immense hangover after Semi 2. Never has a hangover been more disturbing than the one we experience today. And it won’t simply go away by eating greasy food, drinking plenty of water and chugging a painkiller or two. It’s not even caused by the disappointment of our own entry not making it. It’s something that has been a long time coming yet could have easily been avoided. But it has resulted in a difficult situation that could result in the end of the Contest (as we know it).

Eurovision is dead.

It all feels like a storm in a glass of water, because two stories draw all of the attention right now. The first one being that of Netherlands possibly maybe being disqualified due to a vague incident that literally nobody is communicating about, despite the event being literally only a few hours away. The second one is very loud and very clear, and somehow being overshadowed by the Dutch s(h)ituation. Coincidence? You decide. Which brings me to the essence of this post. And allow me to get this disclaimer out first, before I dive head first into this pile of shit. I would have the same stance if it were about any other nation. If this were about, random example, Portugal, I would draw an equally hard line. And I do feel for Eden Golan. That poor girl should never have been put in that awkward and fragile position in the first place.

So with that out of the way:

United By Music? LOL. By trying to carefully avoiding to tread on anyone’s toes, EBU is shooting itself in the foot. This all could have been avoided if they’d asked KAN to sit this one out. Simple as that. A country actively committing war crimes has no place at Eurovision. Simple as that. Have we all forgotten how Eurovision came into existence in the first place?? Try as they might to claim they’re trying to keep the event apolitical, it’s simply mission impossible. And EBU only got themselves to blame. For multiple reasons:

1. The precedents they’ve set themselves. This does not only include the exclusion of Russia(n broadcasters). It also includes allowing entries that literally talk about past events that parallel current ones, so much so that people take it as a middle finger to that current situation and massively vote for it. I’m talking of course about the winner of 2016, 1944 by Jamala.
2. The main sponsor of the event. Despite its name sewing the seeds of confusion, Moroccanoil is an Israeli company. You fill in the blanks. Presumably there are long term contracts, yes. They would also presumably hold escape clauses. And as a global phenomenon, Eurovision shouldn’t have a hard time finding a replacement. But hey – it’s all about the money, honey.
3. Hiding behind the fact that it is a competition between broadcasters. When have you ever read a headline saying ‘SVT/RAI/BBC won this year’s Eurovision?’ While it may be technically true that it is a competition between broadcasters, they represent their nation. And what that nation is doing, should matter in the bigger context. Again: a nation actively committing war crimes has no place at Eurovision.  EBU hiding behind the broadcaster stance is an act of cowardice.
4. Ignoring the fact that the televoting is being hijacked. Without even knowing whether the leaked Italian televote results for semi 2 hold any water, there are other elements that are reason for serious concern. Multiple social media accounts under the handle @stateofisrael have actively urged people to vote for Israel. Even using words like ‘this is not a drill’. Multiple embassies around the world have reiterated that message. The ambassador in Belgium did the same, under the guise of responding to the short interruption we had on the VRT channel, instigated by the unions. This is pure and unfiltered voting fraud. If EBU were truly holding on to their proclaimed principles, they should issue a disqualification on those grounds alone.
5. Using fake applause to drown out any ‘undesirable’ reactions. We all like to believe Planet Eurovision is one of sunshine, daisies and lollipops only. But ignoring reality and creating a fake one? How is that being apolitical? How is that not censorship?

This should be the Best Day Of The Year. Now it’s filled with dread over what is going to happen. If Israel is still allowed to compete, it’ll probably score super high in televoting. Which will change Eurovision forever. I dare not even imagine a scenario where they win. I’ve been a hard core fan since the early ’90s. You have no idea how heavy my heart is in this instance. What a shitshow. And that’s not even taking into account what’s going on with the Dutch. Regardless of what happens tonight: things will never be the same again. Eurovision as we know it is dead. Rest in pieces.