Eurovision 2024 winner Nemo to return trophy in protest at Israel

Nemo, the winner of last year’s Eurovision Song Contest, said they would return their trophies in protest of Israel going ahead with the event.

The 26-year-old Swiss singer said there was a “clear conflict” between Israel’s participation in the contest and the ideals of “unity, inclusion and dignity” that she said the contest represented.

Eurovision Song Contest Director Martin Green said Eurovision was “saddened” by the decision and respected Nemo’s views.

Israel’s presence at Eurovision has become a source of increasing tension due to the war in Gaza and voting disputes during this year’s event.

Five countries (Iceland, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands) announced that they would boycott next year’s event because Israel was allowed to compete.

Israel had previously described its decision to keep him in the competition as a “victory” over critics who sought to silence him and spread hatred.

Nemo became the first non-binary artist to lift the Eurovision award with his song The Code, which describes the way to understand that you are non-binary.

Nemo after the win He told the BBC about the difficulties they faced Feelings during the competition that the organizers did not do enough to support the participants as they debated Israel’s participation in 2024.

“I felt very lonely. I hope things will work out for next year,” Nemo said at the time. It has led to a number of new measures being introduced to protect the mental health of Eurovision artists and staff.

One Statement sent to Instagram On Thursday, Nemo said they felt the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) decision to allow Israel to participate in the event was no longer compatible with their core values.

“Israel’s continued involvement in the process that the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded was genocide shows a clear contradiction between these ideals and the decision taken by the EBU,” they said. Citing a report published in September.

“While I am immensely grateful for the community around this competition and everything this experience has taught me both as a person and as an artist, today I no longer see this trophy on my shelf.”

Nemo also released a video of them placing the trophy in a cardboard box and said it would be sent back to the EBU’s headquarters in Geneva.

In a statement sent to BBC News, Martin Green said: “We regret that Nemo wishes to return his well-deserved reward in 2024.

“We respect the profound views expressed by Nemo and they will always remain a valued part of the Eurovision family.”

Boycotts and protests against Israel’s participation have been the biggest crisis Eurovision has ever seen.

This year’s contest also included voting controversy and allegations that the Israeli government tried to influence the popular vote.

This was requested Some competition rules will be changed and tightenedThe EBU then said a “vast majority” of members agreed that no further vote on participation was necessary and that Eurovision 2026 could go ahead as planned.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog praised the decision to allow the country to compete, calling it “an appreciated gesture of solidarity, brotherhood and cooperation.”

Addressing the boycotts, Nemo emphasized that they believed their decision to return the cup was not about “individuals or artists”, but rather that Eurovision was being used to “soften the image of a state accused of serious crimes”.

“When entire countries withdraw, it should be clear that something is deeply wrong,” they added.

“If the values ​​we celebrate on stage are not lived out off stage, even the most beautiful songs become meaningless.”

The war in Gaza was triggered by the attack on southern Israel led by Hamas on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 people were taken hostage.

Since then, more than 70,370 people have been killed in Israeli offensives in Gaza, according to the region’s Hamas-run health ministry.

Next year’s Eurovision will take place in Vienna to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the competition.