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Inside Dutch Eurovision star's controversial axing: Joost Klein receives the backing of his country despite being banned from competition over complaint from female crew member

Entering with the song Europapa, a tribute to his late parents, the 26-year-old rapper and singer had qualified for the grand final on Thursday evening at the Malmo Arena venue in Sweden.

This latest development plunged the show into further chaos, with organisers already on high alert for the final, having erected a huge ring of steel barriers around the competition venue in preparation for a planned protest. There was also a heavy police presence as thousands of pro-Palestine protesters are set to descend on the Swedish city of Malmo, Sweden, where the final took place, to reiterate calls to ban Israeli singer Eden Golan from competing. The Dutch singer was one of the bookies' favourites to win the contest with his playful pop-rap song Europapa which mixes tunes of pop with happy hardcore and was described by one critic as being 'so bad' it will 'put you off music forever'.

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