Latest news with #Yuval
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Eurovision 2025 winner JJ wants Israel to be left out of the competition next year
Eurovision 2025 ended up being even more absurd and chaotic than anyone could have ever expected. Johannes Pietsich, or JJ, won the competition for Austria, even though according to the voting results, Israel's Yuval Raphael had received more votes than him in many countries. The final decision, though, was in the hands of the jury, and they decided to hand the win to JJ. Since his win, JJ has spoken about the intense pressure from Israel's Yuval, who was close behind him throughout the race. He has also called for Israel to be boycotted from next year's competition. He told Spanish publication El País, 'I would like Eurovision to be held in Vienna next year and without Israel. But the ball is in the EBU's court. We, the artistes, can only raise our voices on the matter.' The singer is not the only one to speak out regarding this matter, as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a press conference that 'nobody was up in arms when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began three years ago, and [Russia] had to leave international competitions and could not take part, as we have just seen, in Eurovision.' ALSO READ | 'P Diddy would rather die than let go of rights to Biggie Smalls' music': How Diddy was at the epicentre of both Tupac and Biggie's death Many have called out the Eurovision organisers, demanding a breakdown of the voting system, as it's unclear how Israel and its representative, Yuval Raphael, received such a high number of votes. For example, Ireland, a country that has been vocal in its criticism of Israel, was one of the biggest voters for Yuval; even Spain reportedly gave Yuval's performance 12 points, the highest by any country. Media publication The Intercept even reported that the organisers muted the jeers and 'free Palestine' chants coming from the audience as Yuval's performance took place. European Broadcasting Union is currently being bogged down by demands of an investigation into the voting system of Eurovision.
The Irish Sun
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Eurovision scandal as Remember Monday singer's wedding ring STOLEN as she performed live on stage
A REMEMBER Monday pop star's wedding ring went missing while she was on stage at Eurovision — as the UK girl band were also robbed in the public vote. Former West End star Advertisement 3 Holly-Anne Hull, centre, who is part of Remember Monday, found her wedding ring and several other pieces of jewellery missing after performing Credit: Getty 3 The trio hear the public vote Credit: AP When she returned backstage, her gold band and several other pieces of jewellery were missing. A Eurovision insider said: 'A few items were missing and no one seemed to know where they went. It was obviously very upsetting.' The Sun understands all the jewellery was later found, to the girls' relief, after what appeared to be an innocent mix-up. Advertisement Read More on EUROVISION The trio also featuring The group were tenth after the jury vote on Saturday night. But they received no points from the public, sending them tumbling down the leader board. They flew home to the UK yesterday. Advertisement Most read in News TV The contest, watched by 7.9million Brits, was won for It knocked New Day Will Rise by Eurovision fans ask 'what the hell just happened' as they compare UK's Remember Monday to pound shop Disney princesses Security was tightened for the event, but two pro-Palestinian protesters tried to storm the stage during A man and a woman were ejected from the arena and Yuval was said to be 'shaken and upset'. Advertisement Police earlier clashed with pro-Palestinian protestors in the centre of Basel. 3 Austria's JJ celebrates the win Credit: AP LET'S BREAK THE MOULD By HOWELL DAVIES REMEMBER Monday did us proud — but we got nul points from the public for the third time in five years. It's clearly time to change tack. Our grime, hip hop and left-field pop scenes are thriving right now — so let's send an act that breaks the safe, Radio 2-friendly mould next year.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
British protesters try to storm stage during Israel's Eurovision performance
A British man and woman have been arrested for trying to storm the stage during Israel's Eurovision performance in Switzerland on Saturday. Video shows a man yelling 'Free Palestine' during Yuval Raphael's performance in St Jakobshalle Arena, in Basel, before he and a woman try to breach the security barrier. They were allegedly stopped by security guards before they could reach the stage. 'At the end of the Israeli performance, a man and a woman tried to get over a barrier onto the stage. They were stopped. One of the two agitators threw paint and a crew member was hit,' a spokesman for Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR said. The suspects were named by Swiss police as David Curry, 22, from Manchester and Meaghan Leon, 27, from London, according to Youth Demand, which organised the demonstration and campaigns for the UK to stop arming Israel. According to SRG SSR's spokesman, they were taken out of the venue and 'handed over to the police'. Israel's entries at Eurovision have sparked protests from pro-Palestinian groups since war broke out in Gaza. The groups have urged the European Broadcasting Union to exclude the country from the competition over the brutality of its offensive in Gaza, where more than 50,000 people have been killed, according to local health authorities. Around 200 protesters mounted a demonstration in Basel on Saturday evening, while two protesters attempted to get on to the stage during Raphael's performance but were halted by security officials. Nobody was injured. Credit: Youth Demand Ahead of her performance, Yuval described in an interview with BBC how it was 'scary at times, even uncomfortable, but it makes me keep reminding myself why I'm here and my agenda, which is spreading as much love as I can and bringing pride to my country.' Yuval came in second in this year's Eurovision Finale, winning the public vote by a large margin. The 24-year-old singer survived the Nova Music festival massacre on October 7 by hiding under dead bodies in a bomb shelter for hours. She spoke about her experience at the UN Human Rights Council, but refrained from talking about it ahead of the song contest in interviews with international media, fearing it would violate the strict guidelines put in place by Eurovision on anything deemed political. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Scottish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Eurovision plunged into favouritism row after bosses use FAKE applause to cover up audience booing contest
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EUROVISION was plunged into a favouritism row last night as it emerged bosses used fake applause to cover up boos for Israel. The song contest's organisers drowned out the crowd during a rehearsal of Yuval Raphael's performance of New Day Will Rise on Friday night. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 Eurovision bosses used fake applause to cover up boos for Israel Credit: AFP 2 A pro-Palestinian activist raises a flag while Israeli singer Yuval Raphael rehearses Credit: AFP It followed a backlash over the country's inclusion in the contest owing to the conflict in Gaza. The European Broadcasting Union agreed to have discussions about its participation next year. One fan wrote on X: 'I have a huge issue with the EBU silencing the booing during Israel's performance and adding fake cheers to make it sound like there's a positive reception from the audience. 'EBU is a public service broadcaster whose purpose is to serve the public, not to silence them.' Another fan argued: 'Why do you mute the audience's boos and replace them with fake applause effects? Where are your ethical values?' It came amid strengthened security measures at the St Jakobshalle arena in Basel, Switzerland. Flags from countries not competing and whistles have been banned. Protesters with Palestinian flags and whistles interrupted the song by Yuval, 24, at a rehearsal on Thursday. Before last night's final, a warm-up act urged the audience: 'Cheer for everybody. The Eurovision tribe is one of loving human beings. We do not hate. We just love.' Host Hazel Brugger added: 'Please give every single performer everything you've got.' Yesterday afternoon, EBU director Martin Green said it had been preparing for the past year and, when it came to potential disruption, was 'ready for all possibilities'.
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Eurovision plunged into favouritism row after bosses use FAKE applause to cover up audience booing contest
EUROVISION was plunged into a favouritism row last night as it emerged bosses used fake applause to cover up boos for Israel. 2 Eurovision bosses used fake applause to cover up boos for Israel Credit: AFP 2 A pro-Palestinian activist raises a flag while Israeli singer Yuval Raphael rehearses Credit: AFP It followed a backlash over the country's inclusion in the contest owing to the conflict in The European Broadcasting Union agreed to have discussions about its participation next year. One fan wrote on X: 'I have a huge issue with the EBU silencing the booing during Israel's performance and adding fake cheers to make it sound like there's a positive reception from the audience. 'EBU is a public service broadcaster whose purpose is to serve the public, not to silence them.' READ MORE ON EUROVISION Another fan argued: 'Why do you mute the audience's boos and replace them with fake applause effects? Where are your ethical values?' It came amid strengthened security measures at the St Jakobshalle arena in Basel, Switzerland. Flags from countries not competing and whistles have been banned. Protesters with Palestinian flags and whistles interrupted the song by Yuval, 24, at a rehearsal on Thursday. Most read in News TV Before last night's final, a warm-up act urged the audience: 'Cheer for everybody. The Eurovision tribe is one of loving human beings. We do not hate. We just love.' Host Hazel Brugger added: 'Please give every single performer everything you've got.' Yesterday afternoon, EBU director Martin Green said it had been preparing for the past year and, when it came to potential disruption, was 'ready for all possibilities'. Inside Israel's huge Eurovision security operation as Hamas survivor qualifies for Basel final after pro-Palestine demo - JM
