Eurovision winner 2024, Nemo of Switzerland, resigned his trophy in protest against EBU decision to leave Israel in the competition.
Nemo says "enough" of the hypocrisy of the organizers
Artist who won Eurovision with a song in May 2024 "The Code", announced his resignation from the trophy on Thursday. The reason is the decision. European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to maintain Israel's participation in the next year's edition, despite ongoing controversy over the country's activities in the Gaza Strip.
Nemo explained in a statement that he did not want to be part of a "system that pretends to be neutral and in fact selectively applies the rules". He added that Israel's participation in the competition "normalizes violence" and is at odds with the values of Eurovision, declaring to promote peace and unity.
I will always be grateful to the Eurovision community, to the fans who voted, to the artists with whom I shared the stage, and to the experiences that shaped me as a person and music. This decision is due to concern about the values that Eurovision promises, not to reject people who make it unique. We still have music in common. That belief has not changed. 🤍
Reactions: a wave of comments and solidarity between artists
The Swiss decision received a huge response. Thousands of comments with hashtags appeared on social media **#StandWithmo and **BoyttEurovision.
Some participants of the planned 2025 edition in Stockholm also announced that they "consider their steps" if EBU does not change its position. Fans recall that similar appeals had already appeared against Russia, which was excluded in 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine.
EBU defends its decision
Eurovision organizers in response stressed that "the competition remains a musical event, not a political one". The EBU argues that government action should not affect the participation of public broadcasters in the event.
However, many critics point out that this argument sounds inconsistent, since in the past other criteria have been applied to countries violating international law.
Media and Culture Experts They note that the Nemo case can launch a new debate on the political role of Eurovision, which has been balancing between entertainment and diplomacy for years.
Is Eurovision no longer apolitical?
Eurovision has long been regarded as a festival connecting nations through music, but every year shows that the competition is unable to escape the political context.
- In 2016, Ukraine won with the song about the deportation of Crimean Tatars, which sparked controversy in Russia.
- In 2022 Russia was removed from participation after the aggression against Ukraine.
- In 2024 there were numerous protests against Israel's participation and contradictory messages from the EBU.
Nemo's decision only stressed that music does not exist in vacuum – and Eurovision is as political as cultural today.
What about the trophy and the Eurovision reputation?
Swiss SRF TV confirmed that the artist physically returned the trophy, and his gesture has "a purely symbolic character". EBU announced that it did not intend to punish Nemo, but "he regrets that the artist no longer feels part of the community of Eurovision".
For many fans and observers, this is a breakthrough. As one of the commentators wrote BBC Culture: "Nemo recalled that in the world of music silence can also be a position. He chose to make his gesture louder than any song."
