JJ (real name - Johannes Pich) became the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. Eurovision is one of the largest international pop competitions in the world, held annually with the participation of European countries. In it, each country sends its representative, and the winner is determined based on the songs performed live.
In an interview after the competition, JJ stated that Israel should be excluded from the 2026 competition due to its military operations in the Gaza Strip.
The Austrian state television channel ORF assessed this idea as the creator's "personal point of view." ORF representatives emphasized that "Eurovision" adheres to the principle of not mixing politics and art.
Shortly after, JJ formally apologized:
"If my words were misunderstood, I apologize. "I criticize the Israeli government, but I condemn any violence against civilians - whether in Israel or in Palestine," he said.
The singer also stated that he would not comment further on this topic.
