The Eurovision Song Contest jury performance has been thrown into chaos by angry fans who are fuming over the Dutch contestant being banned from the show.

Joost Klein was told he would not be permitted to perform on Friday night - which is when the jury watch the finalists perform in order to help them decide their final marks. The 26-year-old singer was abruptly removed from the line-up on Friday after local media in Sweden reported that Joost was allegedly censured following an 'issue' on Thursday.

Fans in the Malmo Arena, where the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest shows are being performed, erupted into boos when it was announced that Joost would not perform during the Friday night jury show. A spokesperson appeared on stage to announce: "The Dutch artist will not perform live on stage tonight." The announcement sparked a furious reaction from the fans in the arena.

While some in the stadium even suggested the show had been entirely stopped due to the angry sounds of the crowd. One wrote on X: "This years contest is in complete and utter disrepute. The jury show is struggling to even begin due to the crowds reaction to everything going on. #Eurovision."

Fans could be heard shouting "joke" loudly while the spokesperson later offered an apology over Joost being denied access to the stage. Earlier in the day, Eurovision officials announced that Joost had been banned from finale rehearsals. A spokesperson said on Friday: “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.”

It is not fully known why he was removed from the performance, but some have suggested his bitter comment towards Israeli contestant Eden Golan may have prompted organisers to take action. During a press conference on Thursday, a journalist - seemingly noting the protests that have occurred in Malmo, Sweden, against Israel ’s inclusion - asked Eden: “Have you ever thought that by being here you bring risk and danger for other participants and public?”

But when Eden was told she did not need to answer that question, salty Joost haughtily sniped: “Why not?” Joost was subsequently banned from rehearsing while Eurovision officials complete an investigation into his catty comment.

Eden, however, did not shy away from the journalist’s question, and answered: “I think we’re all here for one reason, and one reason only, and the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) 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).”

Some music fans have campaigned for Israel to be banned from the 2024 contest due to the ongoing war in Gaza. Last October, Hamas attacked Israel and brutally murdered over 1,000 innocent civilians - prompting a highly targeted response from Israeli officials. There has been controversy over the song choice for Eden - with two songs rejected before the final choice, Hurricane, was settled on. Earlier tracks made reference to the brutal attacks inflicted on Israel last October.

Since Israel was attacked last year, there has also been a horrifying rise in antisemitism around the world and Jewish people have been intimidated, attacked and even murdered purely for the fact that they are Jewish. Addressing the difficult responses to her song choice, Eden previously told JNS: "Honestly, when the news got out to me that they did not want to approve the song, I was shocked, to say the least. Now that it’s done, I’m not looking back. I know that we have a great song that will represent us proudly and that’s all that matters. I am very happy with the final product. I think we have a great, powerful and emotional song that conveys so many feelings, in which every single person can find themselves and connect to it in some way or another,”

Israel is one of the favourites to win the 2024 contest, however, as Eden has proudly and resolutely performed during the contest - winning huge votes from fans in the semi-finial stages. Bookies immediately dropped the country’s odds of winning from 50/1 to 8/1 after a technical error revealed she won 36% of Italy's votes on Thursday.

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