During the grand finale of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night, Israeli contestant Yuval Raphael encountered a thwarted stage incursion that added a dramatic twist to her performance. The Swiss broadcaster, SSR, which is responsible for televising the Eurovision festivities, affirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that a member of the production team was splattered with paint following an attempt by a man and a woman to breach the stage barrier at St. Jakobshalle arena in Basel, Switzerland.
As Raphael's Israeli performance drew to a close, a dramatic scene unfolded: a man and a woman made a daring bid to vault over the protective barrier and onto the stage. They were promptly halted in their tracks. In the ensuing commotion, one of the two agitators hurled paint, striking a crew member, fortunately unharmed. The pair were promptly ejected from the venue and handed over to the authorities, as stated in an official communication from the Swiss broadcaster.
For the second consecutive year, the Eurovision contest was marred by protests against the European Broadcasting Union's decision to permit an Israeli entrant, despite vociferous calls this year for Raphael's exclusion and concurrent pro-Palestine and pro-Israel demonstrations staged outside the arena.
Raphael, a survivor of the tragic Nova festival massacre on October 7, 2023, captivated the audience with a solo performance that saw her navigate a colossal, chandelier-inspired staircase on stage. During BBC One's UK coverage, Graham Norton ignited social media chatter by remarking at the conclusion of Raphael's performance, "I'm not entirely sure what you folks at home could hear. The reception here in the hall was somewhat mixed."
Remarkably, none of the chaos surrounding the foiled stage incursion marred the live broadcast of the 2025 Eurovision Grand Final. Raphael's performance concluded to thunderous applause from the arena's spectators. Prior to the second semi-final on Thursday, Raphael's dress rehearsal was likewise disrupted when six individuals bearing flags and whistles made an appearance. "Security personnel swiftly identified and escorted the individuals out of the hall," earlier conveyed host broadcaster SRG in a statement.
