Eurovision Star Nemo Sends Trophy Back in Bold Protest Against Israel's Role

Nemo, a Swiss singer who made history as the first non-binary winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024, has announced they will return their trophy in protest against Israel's continued participation in the event. Nemo, who performed the song 'The Code' about their journey to understanding their non-binary identity, said that allowing Israel to compete goes against the contest's values of unity, inclusion, and dignity. The decision comes amid growing controversy and tension surrounding Israel's involvement, especially due to the ongoing war in Gaza and disputes over voting during this year's competition.

Several countries, including Iceland, Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands, have declared they will boycott next year's Eurovision because Israel is still allowed to take part. Israel has responded by calling its inclusion a victory over critics who tried to silence it. Nemo expressed disappointment with the contest organizers, saying they felt unsupported during the event, especially as debates over Israel's participation grew more intense. This led Eurovision to introduce new measures to protect the mental health of artists and staff.

In a statement, Nemo explained that the European Broadcasting Union's decision to keep Israel in the contest no longer matches Eurovision's core values. Nemo posted a video of themselves packing the trophy to send back to the EBU headquarters in Geneva. Martin Green, the director of Eurovision, said he was saddened by Nemo's decision but respected their views, emphasizing that Nemo will always be part of the Eurovision family. Nemo clarified that their protest is not against individual artists but against the use of Eurovision to improve the image of a country accused of serious wrongdoing. They believe that if entire countries are withdrawing, it signals a deep problem. Nemo hopes Eurovision will stay true to its values both on and off the stage. Next year's contest is set to take place in Vienna, marking the 70th anniversary of Eurovision, but the event faces challenges as some countries choose not to participate.