Kickl attacks ESC winner JJ because of controversial Israel statements!

Kickl attacks ESC winner JJ because of controversial Israel statements!

FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl has sharply criticized the extremely controversial statement by Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) winner JJ, real name Johannes Pietsch. In an interview with the Spanish newspaper “El País”, the singer called for Israel to be excluded from participating in the ESC, which caused horror in political circles. According to Kickl, he cannot see any Austrian connection to JJ, other than his citizenship, and pointed out that he did not know that the ESC 2024 will take place in Austria, which is a consequence of JJ's success in 2025. With his victory over the title “Wasted Love,” JJ brought the competition to Austria for the third time.

After the interview in which JJ compared Israel and Russia as “aggressors,” the singer may now be facing the end of his career. Many politicians who had previously congratulated him have now stopped commenting on him. Lower Austria's governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner deleted her cheering video from Japan and instead demanded a history lesson for JJ. Kickl described the government's support of JJ as a "lack of success" and criticized the ESC as a platform for a small, loud community.

Political reactions and the responsibility of the media

The reaction of Austrian politicians to JJ's statements critical of Israel was mixed. While the Federal President did not comment, Chancellor Stocker, represented by State Secretary Pröll, condemned anti-Semitism, as did Foreign Minister Meinl-Reisinger. Culture Minister Babler made it clear that Israel's participation in the ESC was a decision of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and could not be influenced by Austria. The ORF, which is responsible for broadcasting the competition, emphasized that JJ's statements were his private opinion and did not reflect those of the broadcaster.

The EBU made it clear that its role is to separate politics from entertainment. She explained that the ESC is a celebration of diversity and cultural freedom, pointing out that the competition is based on values ​​such as tolerance. However, many critics believe the tolerance and diversity values ​​preached at ESC are hypocritical, especially in the context of JJ's comments.

The social debate about anti-Semitism and solidarity

JJ's comments and the associated political reactions have sparked a broader discussion about anti-Semitism and the perception of Israel in Western civil society. Experts report growing alienation from Jewish communities, leading to the perception that Israel is no longer seen as a refuge but as an aggressor. Social principles such as solidarity and tolerance are seen as selective moral guidelines that often only apply as long as they do not collide with unpleasant truths.

Critical voices are increasing, pointing out that solidarity with the queer community is often given greater weight than that with fellow Jews, especially when this goes against a progressive audience. These perceptions and discourses show that the ESC, which has the motto “United by Music”, is not only a celebration of cultural diversity, but also a reflection of the social tensions and challenges that have been brought into focus again by JJ's words and the associated political reactions.