Eurovision Song Contest organisers have spoken out regarding Swedish act Eric Saade wearing a pro-Palestine symbol during his performance during Tuesday's semi-final.
Saade was not competing in the contest but performed with the keffiyeh symbol - commonly used by people who want to show they are pro-Palestinian - on his arm on Tuesday, singing his 2011 entry Popular.
The singer was making a political statement over the Israel-Hamas war which is currently ongoing in Gaza.
However, organisers for the event have since come out and claimed they have "regrets" on letting Saade open the show with his Palestine scarf around his wrist.
A spokeswoman for the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said: “The Eurovision Song Contest is a live TV show. All performers are made aware of the rules of the contest, and we regret that Eric Saade chose to compromise the non-political nature of the event.”
Viewers of the show were left stunned by the statement from the EBU, as one noted on their X account: "Eric Saade wearing a Palestinian scarf around his wrist was the saddest part of the evening."
The EBU noted its regrets for having Saade open the show
BBC
Another added: "So let me summarise it: They're mad at Eric Saade for wearing a keffiyeh and are pretending as if he'd never been there at all #Eurovision has no moral backbone."
"It’s not the end of the world, let the man wear a scarf," another added before a fourth penned: "But it's fine to fly the Israeli flag? What a joke."
"He has Palestinian roots. Let the man show support to his country," one annoyed viewer wrote before another said: "I'm appalled and disgusted by the EBU and the Eurovision Song Contest. Shame."
Ahead of the contest - which is taking place in Malmo, Sweden - fans were warned not to bring Palestine flats, symbols or bags into the arena and were told there would be "vigorous security checks".
Eric Saade wrote a cryptic message on his Instagram post
Saade has cryptically hit out at the restrictions prior to the show and wrote on his Instagram questioning if freedom is "controversial" and why people keep asking if it is "political".
After his performance last night, he also took to his story and said: "Reminder: It's only love. United by music it is." (sic)
Swedish Police Authority has claimed that the terrorist threat level is four points out of five but assured those attending that it is not related to the contest.
There have been several calls and protests urging a boycott of Eurovision this year as Eden Golan competes for Israel.
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Eric wore a pro-Palestine scarf around his wrist
BBC
Elsewhere, Ireland's entry Bambi Thug - who caused controversy for her "demonic" performance - was forced to make changes to their set after they were told to change the ogham writing on their face.
Thug initially had "ceasefire" and "free Palestine" on their body, but later revealed: "I am pro-justice and pro-peace... Unfortunately, I had to change those messages today to ‘Crown The Witch’ only, in order from the EBU.”
