I'm really really glad it didn't come across on the TV tbh.
It went from everyone enjoying themselves to the entire crowd feeling really divided and there being lots of anger. There were some isolated cheering too but there were also a lot of people who just didn't know how to react or feel. It was so awkward.
I think it's important to make a point here. More casual observers need to appreciate that tickets went on sale in November - so only just after the Hamas attack. Many fans had ALREADY bought flights BEFORE then as soon as the dates of the contest were announced. Pretty sure this was before October 7th. So you have a lot of people financially very committed before thoughts of Israel being a controversy ever really came into being. Certainly it never was a consideration for me (seasoned MNer possibly know I tend to be very aware of political shit).
This put a huge number of Eurovision Fans in a difficult position. Abandoning going would leave them massively out of pocket.
Speaking to some Dutch fans in the hotel yesterday evening who were at the same performance they felt exactly the same as us. Just really uncomfortable about how it played out in the arena. You didn't want to clap because that felt like supporting Israel's response but equally you wanted to be respectful to the artist and clap. Afterall Joost kinda sums up the attitude of bringing people together through music and that's why people go from all over Europe (and the world).
But there were people standing up with their fingers in their ears. Several who pulled out flags and were immediately ejected and were applauded by a fair number of audience members. I don't know whether our block was particularly bad - I tried to look around to see how many other people were ejected after the guy in front of us was thrown out and there was one in the next block and one other one I think. So I think that possibly it was a particularly bad place to be sat tbh.
It did put a downer on the experience. It's not ruined it, but it's taken the shine off it a little. You feel on edge.
There has been that feeling of awkwardness and guilt and not quite knowing how to react especially knowing that a lot of locals are unhappy throughout our time here. Walking down 'Eurovision Street' there are number of Palestinian flags flying out the windows. And obviously we did see protesters outside the Eurovillage.
But we've also come across a lot of happy people and very friendly and helpful locals in Malmö (culturally this differs between Copenhagen and Malmö - my friend says the Danes are like the Dutch but grumpy! Copenhageners are very abrupt to the point it could be thought of as rude, even though I don't think it is).
It's been a fab experience, but yes it's definitely dominating and I think for a lot of the hardcore fans here in Malmö I'd argue they feel it's frustrating. They all came here because of the love of the music and how you mix with so many other nationalities and it's friendly. I guess I feel we've got caught up in almost 'someone else's argument' in a way. The dynamics of the situation in Gaza is different to Ukraine. Ukraine was invaded and has tried to liberate its own people whereas Israel was attacked but it's response doesn't feel proportionate and there's a whole history of oppression there. I dunno. I find it hard to deal with tbh as I think both leaderships are the problem and that it's civilians that are always the victims of that. It's not really an issue I particularly like engaging with for that reason. I don't think my opinion helps anyone tbh. I don't think it's particularly easy to discuss with strangers in the city because you don't really know how they will react. So it's like an elephant in the room following you around really.
I think Saturday night will be tough because I do think artists may be more willing to make a point as they've nothing to lose if they aren't one of the better acts and they've perhaps bottled up how they've felt. I have to consider how we've felt this pressure and consider how the artists feel having been in 'the bubble' for two weeks. It must be so pressured.
Overall I think there's probably a fair number of people like me who did Liverpool and it was amazing and the Malmö has been lower key and had this hanging over it who thinks 'i don't want to do it again next year'. Especially if Israel do compete. I think I want to do it all again at some point but I need a break from Eurovisioning (I've been over here four nights in three hotels in two different places and then travelling into Malmö itself which hasn't helped either).
I dunno, I hope this conveys some of the feeling here properly. I think the TV coverage has tried to either gloss over it as being all lovely or make out that all Eurovisioners are evil Israel supporters. It's neither. As I say, feeling caught in the middle of someone else's argument (and then perhaps being asked your own opinion on such a sensitive and difficult issue in certain scenarios) is the best way I can describe it.
I think it's important to make that point - most people here do just want to have fun and feel that it's not going to help matters to let politics interfere with previously made plans. Trying to shame, moralise or guilt really is unhelpful tbh - it just alienates further and makes me see people as close minded and not willing to acknowledge this is hugely complex as an issue.
It's frustrating.