The winner of last year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Nemo, has said they are returning their trophy in protest over Israel’s continued participation in the event.
The 26-year-old Swiss singer said there is a “clear conflict” between Israel’s involvement in the competition and the ideals of “unity, inclusion and dignity” the contest says it stands for.
Israel’s presence at Eurovision has been an increasing source of tension, because of the war in Gaza and a voting controversy during this year’s event.
Five countries - Iceland, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands - have announced they will boycott next year’s event because Israel has been allowed to compete.
Israel has previously called the decision to keep it in the contest a “victory” over critics who had tried to silence it and spread hatred.
Nemo became the first non-binary performer to lift the Eurovision trophy with their song The Code, which is about the path to realising they were non-binary.
After the win, Nemo told the BBC about the challenges they faced during the contest and their feeling that organisers didn’t do enough to support participants who were caught up in the row over Israel’s inclusion in 2024.
Continue reading here - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q5504vv0ko
Now I’m curious. Was there a money prize as well as the trophy? If so, was the money returned? Still though, good move.
I think the prize is the pubicity, as well as a free ad spot for you when you get to perform as the halftime event at the next one, which was last year, and IIRC Nemo took the opportunity to call attention to Palestine as much as he could there as well.
Would prefer if any money wasnt returned tbh, we dont need bad people having more money