Reddit Closes Eurovision Community Amid Hate Speech after Grand Final

The moderators of the Eurovision Song Contest subreddit decided to shut down the community just 12 hours after the grand final on Sunday, citing a surge of “hate speech and strong emotional reactions.”

Following the event, many online comments reflected on the results of Saturday’s competition. The focus was largely on Israel’s impressive performance, which, while it placed second in Austria, generated controversy and strong opinions.

Some commenters accused the Israeli government of manipulating the popularity vote to misrepresent public opinion. Others pointed to the long-standing participation of Israel in the contest, and the accusations that long-time winners should be barred from the competition.

Alongside this outcry, protests emerged against Israel’s entry. Singer Yuval Rafael, who had previously survived the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, remarked, “A New Day will rise up,” expressing hope for healing from past traumas.

Prior to the contest, a coalition of 72 anti-Israel ex-Eurovision participants sent a letter urging the organizers to exclude Israel from future contests. This echoed last year’s protests involving over 1,000 Swedish artists advocating for Israel’s expulsion from Eurovision. A pro-Palestinian crowd jeered at Rafael during the initial “Turquoise Carpet” event, which showcases competing artists.

During one protest, a demonstrator was filmed making a threatening gesture at Rafael. This followed the tragic events surrounding the October attacks by Hamas.

The controversy continued as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for Israel’s removal from Eurovision, citing the struggles of Palestinians during ongoing conflicts. Additionally, Spanish broadcaster RTVE reportedly breached the contest’s neutrality rules by airing pro-Palestinian messages ahead of the competition.

This was in stark contrast to the lack of acknowledgment regarding the 1,200 victims of the October attacks, including those associated with Rafael.

Eurovision, a platform for countries to showcase their musical talent, was originally intended to unify Europe and promote peace, utilizing a mix of jury and public votes to determine winners. Over the years, however, the voting system has sparked debates, especially when jury preferences clash with popular sentiment.

This year’s event saw the public overwhelmingly favor Raphael’s uplifting song “New Day Rises,” granting her nearly 300 points, despite ultimately losing to Austria’s opera singer. The controversy was compounded by accusations of manipulated voting processes fueled by social media narratives.

Reacting to negative comments, moderators on Reddit felt compelled to temporarily shut down discussions, stating that much of the traffic consisted of hate speech. In an effort to cool tensions and reestablish some order, they opted for a brief closure.

“Our subreddit was bombarded with hateful comments from outside users,” said a moderator, indicating the overwhelming negativity they were managing.

These incidents weren’t confined to social media; during Rafael’s performance, disruptions were attempted by pro-Hamas protesters, though they were thwarted by security. It was reported that one protester threw paint, prompting an urgent response from the broadcasting team.

Despite the turmoil, Raphael maintained a positive outlook, expressing gratitude for her experience. “I feel like we’ve truly won in our lives,” she shared, reflecting an appreciation for her journey and her connection to her country.