Dutch Joost Klein disqualified from Eurovision 2024

As I’ve watched hashtags multiply on social media in the days leading up to the final of Eurovision 2024 tonight, I can’t help but wonder about the chances of 20-year-old Eden Golan, the singer representing Israel this year, actually winning the song contest. Despite all the boycotts surrounding the country’s entry, could she still emerge victorious and take home the iconic glass microphone?.

Following Loreen‘s victory in Liverpool with the song Tattoo in 2023, this year the 68th edition of Eurovision is taking place in Sweden, with the Grand Final broadcast live from Malmö Arena this Saturday, May 11^th.

However this edition of the Eurovision hasn’t been plain sailing.

There have been several campaigns to block Israel from taking part in this year’s contest following the outbreak of war in the Middle East. In January, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which hosts the event, issued a statement affirming that “the Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political music event and a competition between public service broadcasters who are members of the EBU. It is not a contest between governments”. The official Eurovision website also has a dedicated FAQ section answering frequently asked questions such as “Why is the Israeli entry eligible to compete?”, “Why is Israel still a Member of the EBU when Russia was suspended?,” and “Will there be more security than usual this year, because of the fact the Israel is competing?

On social media, the public has been divided over the past few months on whether Israel should remain a contestant at the Eurovision. But an online campaign on Twitter/X and Instagram to have the country removed from the competition seemed to have attracted more support from accounts with zero followers or in private mode, which could be an indication of bots – automated accounts that are programmed to perfoem certain activities such re-tweeting, liking, following, or replying to content using AI.

Some of those reacting to the presence of Israel at the Eurovision song contest are real citizens, though.

Furkan Gözükara, a PhD Computer Engineer, has shared a footage of the Israel Eurovision entrant, Eden Golan, who was born in Israel to Russian parents, being booed during a dress rehearsal on May 9th.

“This is how Israel is protested inside Eurovision 2024 rightfully and justly If you don’t see booing on TV that is because they remove it with AI,” claims Gözükara.

Los Angeles-based American singer-songwriter and pianist John Ondrasik, shared footage of his interview on Fox Tonight where he asked singers such as Bruce Springsteen and Barbra Streisand to join him in “standing with our fellow artist Eden Golan, a 20 year old Jewish singer, who has to be escorted in armoured caravans, due to the hate and antisemitism of tens of millions”.