Ireland’s artist Bambie Thug misses the afternoon rehearsal due to an incident

New threat to competition? Bambie Thug, the artist who will represent Ireland in the Eurovision final, explained that he missed the afternoon rehearsal due to an unspecified incident on Saturday, May 11. “Something happened while we were waiting to go on stage for the flag parade [qui ouvrira le spectacle]“detailed the interpreter in an Instagram storywithout providing any further details.

“I felt the need to alert the EBU”the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the competition, adds Bambie Thug, who specifies the organization “took the issue seriously and we discussed what measures could be taken”. “I’m sorry for the fans who came to see me” et “I hope to see you on stage tonight”concludes the artist a few hours before the start of the Eurovision final, in which 26 countries will compete with songs to succeed Loreen and her hit Tattooin Malmö (Sweden), from 9:10 p.m. on France 2. Follow our live stream.

The Dutch broadcaster considers the candidate’s exclusion from the Netherlands to be “disproportionate”. The Dutch candidate, accused “inadequate behaviour”The organizers said he was excluded for a few hours in a press release. A sanction “disproportionate”said the Dutch broadcaster Avrotros he said to himself “shocked”At his account. The Dutch public broadcaster NPO also described the decision as “very radical”. “This is a disappointment for millions of Eurovision fans in the Netherlands and other European countries”, he said. Neither company provided details about the incident mentioned by the organizers.

An “intimidation” investigation was launched. According to the organizers, the Swedish police received a complaint from a production employee against Joost Klein after an incident in the semi-finals on Thursday. The latter confirmed that he had initiated an investigation into “intimidation”.

Croatia, Ukraine and Switzerland are considered favorites. Croatian baby lasagna is favored by the forecasters thanks to his song Dim tag team rim (To shine in society you have to know that it is a folk dance that mixes techno, heavy metal and pop). Right behind the Swiss artist Nemo and his pop song The code could give the Helvetians their first win since 1988 (third overall). Ukrainians Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil hold the title Teresa and Mary Somewhat reminiscent of the folk rap of the 2022 victorious Kalush Orchestra, will also be in the running for a podium place.

Israel’s participation is a stone in the shoe of the organizers. A petition launched in the Nordic countries, artists threatening to slam the door of the competition, a song that has been rewritten several times because it too clearly recalls the October 7 attack… It is an understatement to say that the presence of the Israeli delegation, led by singer Eden Golan, sparks controversy. Demonstrations by opponents took place throughout the week. Israel had even discouraged its nationals from traveling to Sweden to encourage their singer, but the country’s participation was never questioned by the organizers, who argue that the situation is not comparable to that in Russia, which is from The big song rally in 2022 was excluded from the invasion of Ukraine.

Sweden, bored with the Eurovision Song Contest? This is the seventh time that the country, co-record holder for the number of victories, has hosted the competition. And despite geopolitical tensions and a certain level of fatigue, Eurovision fever is not felt too strongly in the city of Malmö, home of the competition. Perhaps the hypothetical re-formation of the legendary group ABBA on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of their victory (thanks to the hit). Waterloo) will put a smile on the faces of Swedish fans. Even if it only happens via hologram, the solution that held the rope faced with the rejection of certain members of the group.