Eurovision Fails to Support Contestants Amid Political Controversy, Winner Claims

Swiss artist Nemo, who clinched victory at this year's Eurovision Song Contest, expressed disappointment over the lack of support from the event's organizers amid a political controversy surrounding Israel's participation.

"I felt very alone," the 25-year-old singer shared in an interview with BBC News. "I really hope they have things in place for the next year."

Nemo, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, noted that the competition was "in a way" overshadowed by the heated debates and protests related to Israel's military actions in Gaza, which sparked calls for the country to be banned from the contest.

In the lead-up to Eurovision, Malmö, the host city, witnessed pro-Palestinian demonstrations, and some contestants faced pressure to boycott the event. Reports also indicated that Israel's entrant, Eden Golan, received death threats during this tumultuous period.

Reflecting on the backstage atmosphere, Nemo described it as "quite tense," revealing that some situations were still under investigation by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which oversees the contest. "They told us they would get back to us, and they haven't yet," they lamented.

When asked whether the organizers adequately supported participants, Nemo hesitated before responding. "No, I don't think so," they stated. "I sometimes felt very alone, both with a lot of things and in terms of communication with the other artists. It took a long time for them to respond when we reached out."

Following their Eurovision win, Nemo has secured a record deal and recently released their first single, "Eurostar." They emphasized the importance of providing mental health support for contestants in future editions of the competition. "I really hope they have things in place to ensure that part of the whole contest is taken care of, especially mentally," they said. "Because I did feel alone, and I know some other artists felt that way too."

The EBU has acknowledged the concerns raised by participants, stating that they would implement changes to provide "more clarity and protection" for artists in future contests.