Lang artikel, overigens zonder nieuwe informatie, maar het geeft wel een goede indruk hoe er vanuit de Noorse TV wordt teruggekeken op dit ESF.
quote:
New development: – Heads must roll
The number of complaints to the "Eurovision" organizer continues to increase, and at the same time the Dutch broadcaster comes up with startling information.
TV 2 has counted that 16 out of 37 countries have been in crisis meetings, expressed themselves critically, or submitted formal complaints regarding this year's "Eurovision Song Contest" (ESC).
Behind the scenes, participants have felt unsafe, traumatized and considered withdrawing.
The skyrocketing number of broadcasters who have expressed criticism of the ESC prompts experts to react.
- It hurts my heart to hear how difficult it has been for several of the artists in this year's Eurovision, both in the run-up to Eurovision and during their stay in Malmö. I am afraid that the poor treatment of the artists will lead to less recruitment of artists for next year's Eurovision, says Martin Phillip Fjellanger to TV 2.
Fjellanger is the founder of the fan site Eurovision Norway, which reaches tens of thousands of people.
Many of the complaints are about how the situation surrounding Israel's participation has been for the artists, and how the Dutch artist Joost Klein was treated when he was banned.
The latest development in the case is that the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS is said to have complained about an unsafe atmosphere in Malmö Arena even before Joost Klein was banned. That's what the newspaper NU writes.
- The fact that the Netherlands filed a complaint about the conditions in Malmö before the incident in question should have taken place is very thought-provoking. Many of the delegations must have reported very stressful and unpleasant working conditions in Malmö, says Fjellanger.
The crux of the matter
Norske Gåte has stated that it seemed that the rules only applied to some, while others escaped, and highlighted the situation with the Netherlands and Israel.
The EBU has given little information on why they banned Joost Klein, but said it was about threatening behavior they have zero tolerance for.
The Dutch delegation has said that Joost Klein was only trying to wave off a tired camera woman. Joost Klein is said to have said he did not want to be filmed, but was filmed anyway, according to the Dutch broadcaster.
- This was not respected. That led to a threatening movement from Joost towards the camera. Joost did not touch the camerawoman. This incident was reported, and followed by an investigation by the EBU and the police, writes the Dutch broadcaster.
Double standard
Fjellanger points out that the Israeli delegation has received complaints that they have been persistent and rude towards artists.
Among other things, videos abound of Irish Bambie Thug being filmed, without his consent, by certain members of the Israeli delegation. If it is true that there are people both in the Israeli delegation, various journalists and people in the TV production who have not respected Joost and other artists' boundaries, then it is clear that sooner or later unpleasant tensions will arise that will lead to confrontations . It's only human.
The head of Eurovision Norway, Håkon Røssum, describes a double standard.
- There are several of us who are reacting to what seems like a double standard from the EBU regarding the treatment of the delegation from Israel and the Netherlands. Banning a country and a highly profiled artist in this way is a tremendously powerful reaction. When we hear artists say openly in the media that Israel has broken the rules, but have not suffered the same consequences, then this is a red flag.
The EBU has been informed of the criticism presented in the case. They have not responded to TV 2's inquiries. The same applies to Israel's delegation.
Reacts to the amount of information
As this article shows, there is a lot of unconfirmed information on the subject.
It characterizes the entire case complex that the EBU has shared little information about what has been going on behind the scenes regarding the situation around Israel, and what actually happened to Joost Klein.
Fjellanger believes that "the lack of information/communication to the EBU has provided fertile ground for both uncertainty, rumors and conspiracies".
He is supported by colleague Røssum:
In terms of communication, several people believe that the EBU is failing the test and that heads must now roll, says Røssum.
Røssum reacts, among other things, to a press conference with several artists that was canceled at short notice, in the middle of the scandal with the Joost Klein ban, on the grounds that artists had to practice instead of talking to the press.
- Not providing ongoing information and being able to be transparent, it leads to speculation and more rumours. The press release from the EBU about the incident with Joost Klein emphasized early on that this was about an incident with a female member of the production. Is it necessary to provide information about the gender of the offended person in this situation? It could be said that there has been a physical incident against one of the production's employees which resulted in equipment being damaged, says Håkon Røssum.
https://www.tv2.no/underh(...)r-ma-rulle/16689685/