As Israeli contestant Eden Golan was taking the Eurovision stage inside Malmö Arena Saturday, Swedish police and anti-Israel protesters clashed outside, with some demonstrators — including climate activist Greta Thunberg — being led away by officers.
After Golan, 20, performed her song, “Hurricane,” members of the audience both cheered and booed her, according to the BBC’s Eurovision host Graham Norton — who called the reaction “mixed.”
Golan has become a lightning rod at the explicitly apolitical Eurovision contest. Her very appearance on stage — and her advancement to the Eurovision final — has driven several fellow contestants batty. But, none more so than Ireland’s Bambi Thug — a nonbinary singer who performed on stage with a jet black demon costume.
After Golan made the final, Bambie Thug told reporters they cried with their team. They also posted a video being told they could not wear face makeup on stage that demanded a ceasefire in Gaza.
Thousands of protestors with Palestinian flags gathered in the central square of host city Malmö, Sweden, before making their way toward the contest’s venue.
Chants of “Eurovision united by genocide” could be heard — a play on the show’s slogan, “United by music.”
The show’s finale commenced at 3 p.m. EST.
Pro-Palestinian protesters claim the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the contest, is playing favorites, having banned Russia from Eurovision in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.
Prior to the show, Dutch contestant Joost Klein, considered one of the favorites, was expelled from the competition after a member of the production crew complained about his behavior.
Golan is considered one of the contest’s frontrunners.
—With Post wires
