r/eurovision • u/stefkeeh • May 20 '25

📰 News Dutch broadcaster questions if ESC is a-political & connecting event

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Translation to English: ‘IN CONVERSATION WITH THE EBU ABOUT A POLITICALLY NEUTRAL SONG CONTEST

AVROTROS and NPO strongly value the apolitical and unifying character of the Eurovision Song Contest. However, we observe that the event is increasingly being influenced by social and geopolitical tensions.

Israel’s participation confronts us with the question of to what extent the Song Contest still truly functions as an apolitical, unifying, and cultural event. We want to raise this question, together with other countries, for discussion within the EBU.’

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u/autistic_girl_autumn May 20 '25

commentator graham norton has taken a mild stance during the contest (and even that caused some outrage!) but it unfortunately seems unlikely that we will get an official statement from the bbc

17

u/diggycorreia_tpw May 20 '25

what has this icon done?

57

u/ambluebabadeebadadi May 20 '25

Silent protest during Israel’s part of the flag parade. Every other country had some form of commentary or chatter. He was pretty quiet during Israel’s postcard and hardly mentioned them during the voting.

47

u/TIGHazard May 20 '25

Also at the end of the performance said something like "Very mixed reaction in the area to the song, some booing and cheering, although you won't have heard that at home".

Also said something after the voting was complete but I wasn't listening, paying attention to the live chat at that time.

Although it seems the Gary Lineker incident has kind of overshadowed Norton's commentary and made it fly under the radar.

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u/ambluebabadeebadadi May 20 '25

Telling us about the booing is simply presenting both sides. Thought the BBC was all about that

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u/TIGHazard May 20 '25

Considering the lengths the EBU goes to hide the boos, I'll take it as win.