Felicia, who won Melodifestivalen and will represent Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, said in an interview with TT that Israel should not be allowed to compete. She elaborated in an interview with Dagens Nyheter, stating, 'I don't think they should be there, actually. That's it.
' After her victory, Felicia is now Sweden's representative in Eurovision Song Contest. She has met mixed reactions on social media and emphasizes she stands by her opinions, saying, 'That's how I think, like. I have been clear that I think what I think and I will say it.
Then we will find ways forward. ' Felicia has no plans to back down from her statements about Israel's participation. She has an ongoing meeting with SVT's Eurovision team to discuss the statements.
Felicia says she has just heard about the potential protest and needs to talk with her team, noting, 'I just heard about it and haven't had time to think about it. ' The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has noted Felicia's statement and says it has been in contact with SVT. EBU chief Martin Green says in an email to TT that EBU fully supports the principle of freedom of expression but also has rules so all participants can operate in a 'safe and respectful environment'.
In a statement, Green said, 'We have been in contact with SVT to ensure that their artist has clearly been reminded of the rules and responsibilities that apply after their selection for the competition. ' He added, 'Participants must not instrumentalize Eurovision Song Contest or use the event as leverage by making political statements or creating controversies and thereby shift focus from the event's purpose, which is to celebrate music and promote unity. ' EBU will continue dialogue with all involved to ensure rules are followed and to protect the event's integrity and neutrality.
According to EBU rules, artists are not allowed to take political positions in connection with the competition. All participants are required to refrain from political representations, including actions, statements, or symbols, during or related to the event, as per EBU guidelines. Participants may express themselves freely in a personal capacity but must avoid linking political opinions to participation in ESC, according to the rules.
We have been in contact with SVT to ensure that their artist has clearly been reminded of the rules and responsibilities that apply after their selection for the competition. We will continue the dialogue with all involved to ensure that the rules are followed and to protect the event's integrity and neutrality.
However, Eva Beckman, program director at SVT, says that freedom of expression applies to artists, including those participating in Eurovision. ' Beckman says it is not clear to SVT that Felicia has broken the rules. This presents a contradiction: while the EBU has noted Felicia's statement and is in contact with SVT to ensure rules are followed, implying potential concern about rule violations, Eva Beckman from SVT says it is not clear that Felicia has broken the rules.
The situation remains unresolved as SVT and Felicia's team plan to navigate the situation to ensure her participation in Eurovision 2026. The controversy has drawn reactions from political figures. EU parliamentarian Alice Teodorescu Måwe (KD) wrote 'Antisemitism lives and thrives' about an interview where Felicia criticized Israel.
She interprets Felicia's statement as extremely strange but understandable in the context after October 7. Teodorescu Måwe says there is a double standard where what is expressed as criticism of Israel actually involves antisemitism. She elaborated, 'That statement I interpret as extremely strange.
But it is also understandable in the context that has arisen after October 7. Partly it seems legitimate to ask questions to an artist who wins an apolitical music competition about another participating country. ' She added, 'I have not interpreted what she says.
I interpret the context. That is, that she feels compelled at all to speak out about just that specific country,' and 'Yes, because it is marinated in antisemitism. And it is not so strange since the discourse is what it is.
Where one asks these questions instead of focusing on that it is a music competition. It has nothing to do with what policy a country's government drives. ' In contrast, EU parliamentarian Jonas Sjöstedt defends the criticism.
Participants must not instrumentalize Eurovision Song Contest or use the event as leverage by making political statements or creating controversies and thereby shift focus from the event's purpose, which is to celebrate music and promote unity. The code of conduct also emphasizes that mutual respect between artists is crucial.
He says he is tired of labeling everyone who criticizes Israel's genocide as antisemitic, stating, 'I am so tired of people slapping antisemitism on everyone who criticizes Israel's genocide. ' Sjöstedt believes Felicia expresses what the vast majority of Swedes feel, that what has happened in Gaza is terrible and Israel has no place in Eurovision. He said, 'I believe Felicia expresses what the large majority of Swedes feel.
That what has happened in Gaza is terrible and is still happening. And Israel has no place in Eurovision. We kicked out Russia, that was completely right.
' Sjöstedt says Israel's war in Gaza is equivalent to genocide. This represents another contradiction: Alice Teodorescu Måwe interprets the context of Felicia's statement as antisemitic, suggesting it reflects a double standard, while Jonas Sjöstedt defends Felicia's criticism as legitimate and not antisemitic, arguing it reflects widespread concern about Israel's actions in Gaza. The Israeli response has been significant.
Felicia has gotten into a dispute with the Israeli TV company KAN, which is said to have submitted an official protest after the Swedish winner was clear that she does not think Israel should participate in Eurovision. Officials at the Israeli public service company (KAN) are concerned about the statements and are considering submitting an official complaint to EBU. The reason for the potential complaint is that the statement may be considered to violate Eurovision rules prohibiting participants from using the competition as a platform for political messages.
In Israel, there is concern that Felicia's statement could lead to a domino effect where more participants in Eurovision 2026 express political stances against the country. Israeli Eurovision fans are furious at Felicia, and the country's leading ESC expert demands an 'aggressive line' and that KAN should protest officially, but no decision has been made yet. Whether the Israeli TV company KAN has officially submitted a protest to EBU regarding Felicia's statements remains unknown.
According to reports, several other EBU member countries have said they do not want to see Israel in the competition. It is alleged that the head of Spanish public service reacts strongly to EBU's admonitions to Swedish Felicia after her statement about Israel. Whether other EBU member countries will formally support or oppose Israel's participation in Eurovision 2026 is unclear.
What specific actions EBU will take in response to Felicia's comments and any potential protests is also undetermined. Experts weigh in on the potential consequences. TV4's Mello expert Filip Stiller Borowicz says the risk of disqualification is very small, as similar statements by artists in the past have not led to any consequences.
He stated, 'It has happened before that artists in Eurovision have spoken out roughly as Felicia has done, without it leading to anything at all. ' The potential impact of this controversy on Felicia's performance or Sweden's standing in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is not yet known. The EBU's ongoing dialogue with SVT and other involved parties will be crucial in determining the outcome of this high-profile dispute over political expression in Europe's premier music competition.