Overview

• JJ, Austria’s Eurovision 2025 winner, suggested in an interview that Israel should be excluded from ESC 2026 and compared the Gaza conflict to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
• He apologized on May 22, stating he condemns all violence against civilians and regretted any misunderstanding caused by his comments.
• Ukrainian fans expressed outrage after JJ cited Russian-Austrian soprano Anna Netrebko, accused of Kremlin ties, as an artistic influence for his winning song.
• Netrebko is considered persona non grata in Ukraine due to her perceived proximity to the Kremlin and insufficient condemnation of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
• Austria’s President Van der Bellen has called for nuanced discourse on the controversy as the country prepares to host Eurovision 2026 in Vienna.