Four audience members were removed from the first Eurovision Song Contest semi-final in Vienna after protests during Israel’s performance, organisers said, as the contest opened under pressure over Israel’s participation and boycotts by five countries.
The European Broadcasting Union and Austrian host broadcaster ORF said one spectator near a microphone “loudly expressed their views” as Israeli singer Noam Bettan began his song Michelle. Chants of “stop the genocide” were heard during quiet parts of the performance.
The EBU told SVT that the person was removed for disruption. Three other spectators were also removed from the Wiener Stadthalle for what the organisers described as “disruptive” behaviour.
ORF had said before the show that it would not ban Palestinian flags inside the venue or censor audience reaction. A Palestinian flag was visible in the crowd during the broadcast. Many Israeli flags were also waved during Bettan’s performance.
Eurovision executive producer Michael Kroen has said previously that the broadcast would not hide audience reaction. “We will not sugarcoat anything or avoid showing what is happening, because our task is to show things as they are,” he said in a press conference by ORF last December.
Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and Iceland are boycotting this year’s event over Israel’s genocide in Gaza. More than 1,000 musicians and cultural workers have also called for a boycott.
The EBU has rejected calls to exclude Israel and has said the contest must remain a neutral cultural event. Critics have accused the organiser of applying different standards after Russia was barred from Eurovision following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Israel’s participation has faced protests at recent contests in Malmö, Basel and now Vienna. This year’s Eurovision marks the event’s 70th edition. The second semi-final takes place on Thursday, with the grand final scheduled for Saturday.
Bettan qualified for Saturday’s final despite the protests. Israel advanced alongside Finland, Greece, Belgium, Sweden, Moldova, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania and Poland.
Finland’s Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen also reached the final with Liekinheitin.
The Finnish act entered the semi-final as one of the favourites. Their final running slot will be decided by the Eurovision production team after Finland drew “producer’s choice” following the semi-final.
HT