ESC winner JJ in criticism: Like to assassination ensures turmoil!

ESC winner JJ in criticism: Like to assassination ensures turmoil!

Austria's Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) winner JJ is the focus of criticism due to his controversial statements in the last few days. The trigger was his statements in an interview with the Spanish newspaper ABC in which he was extremely negative about the participation of Israel in the competition. JJ demands to exclude Israel from the ESC and is disappointed with the exclusion of Russia. He reminds that the European Radio Union (EBU) did not respond sufficiently to political tensions in its eyes.

The situation is particularly explosive through another JJ’s campaign: he likes an article about an attack on two Israeli diplomats in Washington, D.C., which took place on Wednesday evening at the Capital Jewish Museum. This act led to the arrest of a suspect who was confronted with the words "Free Palestine, Free Palestine" after his arrest. JJ deleted the Like later, but the public reaction to these actions remains critical.

political controversy and reverberation in society

The statements of JJ not only polarized the ESC fans, but also led to increased political pressure on ORF and EBU. The Israeli embassy in Vienna has reacted to the fatal attack and emphasizes that the community cannot be intimidated by terror. Her ambassador, David Roet, described the attack as a sobering memory of the dangers of hatred and fulfillment. This results in the fact that the first votes have requested an official statement on the upcoming ESC in Austria.

The situation not only harbors tensions within the ESC community, but also reflects great social discussions. The ESC is said to be apolitical, but the controversy about the participation of Israel, the tightening of the flag regulation by the EBU and the associated exclusion of non-official flags underline the challenges that the competition must overcome in today's world. The ban on flag- which only allowed official state flags and punishes violations with disqualification- not only benefits the queer community, which is criticized by the ban on rainbow and nonbinary flags, but also shows how politically charged the competition is now.

outlook on the ESC in Vienna

In view of the political tensions, the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, which is to take place in Vienna, is under a special light. The EBU has clearly communicated that the participation of Israel was not decided by the state of the country, but by the broadcaster Kan. This leads to another open letter from 70 former ESC participants who call for Israel's exclusion. At the same time, warnings of the Israeli National Security Council of Jews and Israelis have also been given not to show Jewish or Israeli symbols during the ESC.

Everyday stress and the challenges within the ESC environment make it clear that this year's events also ask the audience and participants with an important ideological question: What should art look like in times of political conflicts? The chance that the event will be a platform for dialogue and understanding could remain despite all the controversy.

whether the EBU and the organizers can smooth the waves remains to be seen. For the fans and artists who take part in this international competition, this challenge will be a central topic to make the ESC 2025 an unforgettable event in Vienna.