As the dust settles on the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, a number of themes have emerged, not least among them the controversy surrounding Israel’s representative, Eden Golan. The 21-year-old singer’s participation in the competition was met with a mix of enthusiasm and hostility, with some audience members booing her and others showing their support.
For Germany’s representative in the competition, Isaak, the atmosphere was particularly jarring. “I can definitely understand why everyone was booing, but I think the Eurovision Song Contest is about being united by music, and I didn’t see that unity,” he said in a recent interview with allthingsadam.ie. “It was hate, and hate shouldn’t be a place in the Eurovision Song Contest.”
Golan, who finished in fifth place, was not the only Israeli artist to face criticism during the competition. Her song, “Hurricane,” a reworded version of her original song “October Rain,” which referenced the Hamas massacre in Israel that took place in October 2023, was disqualified for being too political. Despite this, Golan still managed to make it to the top five, a testament to her talent and perseverance. However, her experience was not without its challenges. She faced death threats, had to conceal her identity outside her hotel room in Malmo, and experienced the rejection of a Eurovision jury member who refused to give her points due to his personal feelings against Israel’s military actions during the ongoing conflict.
Isaak, who finished in 12th place, went on to say that he believes Golan was bullied during the competition, with people targeting her due to her affiliation with Israel, rather than her as an artist. “You know how young she is,” he said. “This is her life goal and she wants to be part of the Eurovision Song Contest. Just imagine if Germany were to do something wrong, and I, as a German, wanted to be part of the Eurovision. I would just be vilified for my country, not for my music. I think that would be a terrible thing to happen to me.”
The controversy surrounding Golan’s participation in the competition has left many wondering what the future holds for the Eurovision Song Contest, which is known for its motto of unity through music. In response, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced plans to take steps to improve the well-being of artists participating in the competition, including the creation of a crisis management team and retreat rooms for relaxation, where no filming will be allowed.
In an interview with Swiss media, Bakel Walden, chairman of the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group, emphasized the importance of maintaining political neutrality and treating each other with respect and fairness. “The ESC stands for freedom of expression,” he said. “The artists can comment on anything and demonstrate in front of the hall, but on stage, there needs to be certain rules. We want an ESC in which everyone puts their heart and soul into it. We cannot solve the many wars and conflicts in the world during the ESC, but it is a strong statement if we treat each other fairly, peacefully, and respectfully.”
