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THE 38 COUNTRIES taking part in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland have been revealed.
The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest final is set to take place in Basel between 13 and 17 May, after Switzerland’s Nemo won this year’s final.
Ireland and Israel are on the final list for entrants, as is the Netherlands despite speculation on whether the country would enter the upcoming song contest following the controversial exit of its 2024 act Joost Klein.
Klein was banned from the show following a complaint made by a female member of the production crew.
The 2024 Eurovision was held in May in Malmö, Sweden, but in August, the Swedish Prosecution Authority dropped its investigation into the backstage altercation.
The Swedish Prosecution Authority said the investigation concluded that Klein “made a movement that hit the woman’s film camera”, adding that “the course of events was fast and was perceived differently by the witnesses of the incident”.
“I cannot prove that the act was capable of causing serious fear or that the man had any such intention,” senior prosecutor Fredrik Jonsson said.
The Eurovision Song Contest is organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which is, essentially, an alliance of public service media organisations whose countries are within the European Broadcasting Area.
Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS blasted the decision to boot Klein off the show in the hours before the grand final as “not proportional” to the incident and its participation in the 2025 contest had been in doubt.
In October, AVROTROS confirmed it would participate in the 2025 edition but Klein declined the opportunity to take part in next year’s contest, AVROTROS said.
Meanwhile, the EBU this week said it has now put in place a package of measures after a series of controversies last year, including the appointment of a “safety manager in the artist environment” and “seriously reducing the amount of filming behind the scenes”.
Bambie Thug represented Ireland in this year’s song contest and said the atmosphere behind the scenes had been horrible.
They called for Israel to be banned from the Eurovision and Bambie Thug had threatened to not perform at the final due to an alleged breach of rules by Israeli TV commentators during their semi-final performance.
According to RTÉ’s report, a commentator on Israel’s national broadcaster KAN warned viewers with children that Bambie Thug’s performance would be “the most scary” of the show.
The commentators added that there was some controversy about Bambie Thug’s song in Ireland and that the singer also liked to “speak negatively about Israel” before adding, “prepare your curses”.
Once the final was over, Bambie Thug accused KAN of inciting violence against them.
“So now that I am free I can talk about everything right? KAN, the broadcaster, incited violence against me twice, three times,” they told reporters.
The changes to production for next year’s song contest to ensure the wellbeing of participants includes the implementation of no filming zones, more closed-door rehearsals, and the introduction of a welfare producer to be a key point of contact for artists and staff to “ensure a safe, respectful, and supportive environment”.
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When did Israel become part of the EU
@MN: The Eurovision Song Contest has nothing to do with the EU
@MN: It’s never been an EU competition. Israel should be excluded as a terrorist state.
@Brendan O’Brien: exactly
@MN: it’s not the EU, it’s the EBU – an entirely separate organisation, but I agree that israel should not be admitted.
@Brendan O’Brien: does that mean the uk should be excluded as well
@Brendan O’Brien: yawn
@offside again: Having to keep making excuses after excuses attempting to justify genocide must be exhausting. Enjoy your snooze
@MN:
Yes throw them out, and also why do they get Visa free to Europe, why do they think they are so special?
@Brendan O’Brien: Another question is why are Israel in the European championships in soccer
@Ger Whelan: the faux outrage here is exhausting. There is no way you genuinely about Palestiniens. It’s all about hating jews.
@offside again: *care
@Brendan O’Brien: I’m looking forward to voting for them again next year.
@Ger Whelan: its not too long ago, making a comment like that would incur a (ridiculous) backlash from (I like to think they were just agitators, trolls & stir the pot types… I hope anyway) pro Israeli folk and label you anti semitic!
Good to see more and more people recognise exactly what net-tan-an-u is pulling off in this day and age.
(Oh,& yes, eurovision is shallow, tired & very irrelevant)
@offside again: That was a quick snooze. Do Israeli propaganda leaders not allow you to take breaks?
@MN: scr3w Israel
@Brian Molloy: is the UK currently engaged in a genocide? Israel is the worst of humanity.
@offside again: thats where you’re wrong, the ONLY people making the stance against genocide by israel a religious thing is jewish people, it has nothing to do with religion israel could be a christian country people would still be standing up against them
@Johnny Rose: Has nothing to do with Europe either apart from all the Eastern Europeans that moved to the holy land in the middle of the last century as supposed natives to that land.
@offside again: You can’t even construct a proper sentence to make your argument. That clearly demonstrates that you’re talking nonsense. It’s just more false accusations of antisemitism. It’s perfectly reasonable for people of conscience to genuinely care about the Palestinians.
@DAN TEDSON: according to kier starmers speech he made in Cyprus. It would seem UK are very involved indeed.
@he didnt take the 120k because he already got it s: Actually many Jews are appalled at Israeli crimes against humanity.
@helen mary fitzsimons: Indeed.
Anyone, or any country, that supports Israel is complicit in its atrocities, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
That includes posters here.
@MN: we should invite China and USA then
Irish entry, a woman with tackle Danny D would envy
@Hot Jim: Why the big interest in people’s genitals?
@Brendan O’Brien: what’s a woman?
@Maximilian Kolbe: An adult female human being, according to Oxford Dictionaries. Did you not know?
@Maximilian Kolbe: And why ask me?
@Maximilian Kolbe: the opposite of a man
@Brendan O’Brien: Because poor auld Max hasn’t a clue.
@Brendan O’Brien: what’s a female?
Israel was not banned and will not be banned for several reasons, but one of the main reasons is sponsorship.
I believe that there is an Israeli company that produces a well known hair product oil and they appear to be a major sponsor and money talks, sadly. That as well as prevention by a few countries that just refuse to do anything about the massacre that is going on in Gaza.
@George Vladisavljevic: yes, it’s a hair product which uses the name of another country in order to avoid any obvious association with israel.
@Social Guy: Do tell.
Please.
@james rowan: Yes, they should, and at the same time also say why they did so.
I remember there was a time when we couldn’t afford to host it, also when we had one or 2 half decent entries, then we entered Shyte songs so we wouldn’t win it
@ron don: yea, when we won 3 in a row in the 90’s, and with that came hosting commitments each year that RTE couldn’t afford. We held it in an equestrian centre in Millstreet one of the years
Boycott it now.
If only as an excuse not to be part of that utter drivel.
@Fergus O’Donnell: I think we should wait.
If we boycott it now they will only replace us.
Better to wait and make it an issue when it cannot easily be ignored.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: good idea!
@Fergus O’Donnell: Better still, why not set up an alternative people’s Eurovision excluding Israel, Belarus, Russia. And include Palestine in the competition. Musicians from across Europe could be involved, and Ireland could lead the way.
ISRAEL OUT!!
@Andrew Kenny: meh
@Dave G Doe: you’re an absolute melt with your routine utterly vile opinions – not a backer of journal censorship and that is rife but you need to go !!
A complete joke
Boycott till Israel are thrown out
Absolute waste of taxpayers money
If Eurovision wants to support a genocidal state then perhaps it’s time to create another competing organisation.
@Dave G Doe: you’re all over the anti Israel comments like a cancer. Genocide has no place in the Eurovision…. period!!
Scr3w eurivision.
Boggles the mind that they would invite a nation like Is to participate. They torture children and specifically targets kids for murder. They are the worst of humanity.
Russia was excluded when they invaded Ukraine. But now Israel has invaded Lebanon and Syria nothing will be done. Jewish money talks always
@FoxyBoiiYT: Hezbollah shouldn’t have launched 11,000 rockets into Israel. No rockets = no Israeli intervention to stop said rockets. The Syrian border/Dmz has no Syrian Army present. Syria is in a state of flux. Lots of jihadis floating around. This is sensible until things have settled down. They’ve already attacked a UNDOF post, which Israel repelled. Nothing to do with “Jewish money” you clown.
@honey badger: Yiur nothing but a right wing Apologist for murderers. Sad little baby.
@honey badger: How many shekles is your “opinion” worth?
@FoxyBoiiYT: Carry on avoiding the reasons why Israel “invaded” Lebanon so. That’ll definitely fix things. Good lad.
@honey badger: Carry on avoiding the wanton slaughter being carried out by your Jewish mates. Palestinians aren’t people afterall, not in your world anyways
@honey badger: Don’t get your auld Star of David jocks in a twist Honey.. these Israel/US backed “rebels” aren’t terrorists already are they ? Jeez that was quick.. You’d think after financing and supporting the growth of Hamas to undermine the PLO they’d have learned their lessons… still nothing that a bit of ethnic cleansing won’t sort out huh..
@FoxyBoiiYT: But they are. That’s why I’ve said Hamas could end this by releasing the hostages and surrendering. You should be saying this too.
@Dave G Doe: Mostly murdering women, children and innocent civilians. Pity your not among that number based on your total lack of humanity
@FoxyBoiiYT: way to contradict your own comment. Foolish.
Can’t comment on no prosecution of Derry woman.killed? Bought nodding dogs
@Pork Hunt: Another disgrace from this state.
Israel Out.
Wasn’t there a time when Oz took part in the Eurovision?? Such ridiculous nonsense it was. Never mind, soon Lichtenstein will be taking part in the Australasian Song Contest.
@Patrice Ahern: You do know the show was called the Eurovision because Eurovision was the name of the satellite that first streamed it, not because it was for European countries right?
@Ger Whelan: No, I didn’t know that. I assumed that the inclusion of the word “Euro…” referred to Europe & that was why ALL of the songs were from European countries. I guess we should change it to the PANovision Song Contest.
@Patrice Ahern: well you assumed wrong didn’t you..
@Ger Whelan: the logic behind the name is irrelevant. It’s operated by the EBU – EUROPEAN Broadcasting Union. israel is NOT part of Europe and has no business being part of any European organisation. The fact that none of their neighbours want anything to do with them doesn’t mean that they are European. Decent Europeans want nothing to do with them either.
@Ger Whelan: Streamed? Satellites don’t “stream”.
Eurovision is no place for genocide
Get rid of Israel
Go Israel
@Bertie: yes. Please. Just go.
Given the behaviour of the EBU this year, I’ll probably skip the Eurovision next year for the first time in my life
Israel is an apartheid illegal state openly committing genocide. Shame on anyone or organisation which embraces them in any fashion. Shun, boycott and divest.
Nope
The ‘gobsihtes for gaza’ are stamping their little ‘weJ’ “disliking” feet.
have your say