Madonna did not have permission to make a political statement about the Israel–Palestine conflict during her Eurovision performance, organisers have said.
The pop star’s backing dancers were seen wearing Israeli and Palestinian flags on their backs during the performance at the final in Tel Aviv tonight.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises Eurovision, said it had not approved this part of the act because the event is “non-political”.
Madonna had earlier defied calls from pro-Palestinian activists to cancel the show, saying beforehand that she wanted to create “a new path toward peace”.
A spokesperson for the EBU told The Independent: “In the live broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest grand final, two of Madonna’s dancers briefly displayed the Israeli and Palestinian flags on the back of their outfits.
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Malta’s Michela performs the song “Chameleon” during the Grand Final of the 64th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 on 18 May in Tel Aviv.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Jonida Maliqi defends Albania’s position with the song “Ktheju tokës”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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The Czech Republic’s Lake Malawi performs the song “Friend of a Friend”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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The duo S!sters represent Germany with the tune “Sister”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Russia’s Sergey Lazarev sings the song “Scream” during the final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Leonora represents Denmark with the ballad “Love is Forever”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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San Marino’s Serhat electrifies the crowd with the song “Say Na Na Na”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Tamara Todevska represents North Macedonia with the song “Proud”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Sweden’s John Lundvik performs the song “Too Late for Love”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Slovenia’s Zala Kralj and Gasper Santl sing the tune “Sebi” together during the Grand Final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Cyprus’ Tamta performs the song “Replay”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Duncan Laurence, representing Netherlands , performs the song “Arcade”.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
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Katerine Duska sings “Better Love” for Greece.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
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Israel’s Kobi Marimi performs the song “Home” during the final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Norwegian supergoup KEiiNO represent their country with “Spirit in the Sky”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Norwegian supergoup KEiiNO represent their country with “Spirit in the Sky”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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The UK’s Michael Rice delivers an acclaimed performance of “Bigger than Us”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Iceland’s Hatari perform the song “Hatrid mun sigra” during the final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Estonia’s Victor Crone performs “Storm” during the Grand Final of the 64th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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ZENA represents Belarus with the song “Like It”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Azerbaijan’s Chingiz performs the song “Truth”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Bilal Hassani represents France with the pop tune “Roi” during the Grand Final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Mahmood sings the song “Soldi” for Italy.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Serbia’s Nevena Bozovic performs the song “Kruna”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Luca Hanni performs the song “She Got Me” for Switzerland.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Australia’s Kate Miller-Heidke performs the song “Zero Gravity” with a spectacular stage display.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Spain’s Miki wraps up the Grand Final with the tune “La Venda”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
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Hosts Assi Azar, Lucy Ayoub, Bar Refaeli and Erez Tall walk on stage for the final.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
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Designer Jean-Paul Gaultier and supermodel Bar Refaeli chat during the final.
Guy Prives/Getty Images
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Serhat, representing San Marino, and Israel’s TV host Assi Azar are pictured together during the evening.
Guy Prives/Getty Images
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Demonstrators protest the Eurovision on the sidelines of the song contest in Tel Aviv.
Bel Trew
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Demonstrators protest the Eurovision on the sidelines of the song contest in Tel Aviv.
Bel Trew
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A UK supporter poses in the Eurovision village in Tel Aviv.
Bel Trew
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This installation is located in the Eurovision village.
Bel Trew
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Crowds gather in the Eurovision village on the sidelines of the contest.
Bel Trew
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Supporters of the Netherlands pose in the Eurovision village.
Bel Trew
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Duncan Laurence, representing The Netherlands, wins the Grand Final of the Eurovision.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
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Duncan Laurence performs “Arcade” after winning the song contest.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
1/38
Malta’s Michela performs the song “Chameleon” during the Grand Final of the 64th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 on 18 May in Tel Aviv.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
2/38
Jonida Maliqi defends Albania’s position with the song “Ktheju tokës”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
3/38
The Czech Republic’s Lake Malawi performs the song “Friend of a Friend”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
4/38
The duo S!sters represent Germany with the tune “Sister”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
5/38
Russia’s Sergey Lazarev sings the song “Scream” during the final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
6/38
Leonora represents Denmark with the ballad “Love is Forever”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
7/38
San Marino’s Serhat electrifies the crowd with the song “Say Na Na Na”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
8/38
Tamara Todevska represents North Macedonia with the song “Proud”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
9/38
Sweden’s John Lundvik performs the song “Too Late for Love”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
10/38
Slovenia’s Zala Kralj and Gasper Santl sing the tune “Sebi” together during the Grand Final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
11/38
Cyprus’ Tamta performs the song “Replay”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
12/38
Duncan Laurence, representing Netherlands , performs the song “Arcade”.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
13/38
Katerine Duska sings “Better Love” for Greece.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
14/38
Israel’s Kobi Marimi performs the song “Home” during the final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
15/38
Norwegian supergoup KEiiNO represent their country with “Spirit in the Sky”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
16/38
Norwegian supergoup KEiiNO represent their country with “Spirit in the Sky”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
17/38
The UK’s Michael Rice delivers an acclaimed performance of “Bigger than Us”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
18/38
Iceland’s Hatari perform the song “Hatrid mun sigra” during the final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
19/38
Estonia’s Victor Crone performs “Storm” during the Grand Final of the 64th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
20/38
ZENA represents Belarus with the song “Like It”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
21/38
Azerbaijan’s Chingiz performs the song “Truth”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
22/38
Bilal Hassani represents France with the pop tune “Roi” during the Grand Final.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
23/38
Mahmood sings the song “Soldi” for Italy.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
24/38
Serbia’s Nevena Bozovic performs the song “Kruna”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
25/38
Luca Hanni performs the song “She Got Me” for Switzerland.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
26/38
Australia’s Kate Miller-Heidke performs the song “Zero Gravity” with a spectacular stage display.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
27/38
Spain’s Miki wraps up the Grand Final with the tune “La Venda”.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
28/38
Hosts Assi Azar, Lucy Ayoub, Bar Refaeli and Erez Tall walk on stage for the final.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
29/38
Designer Jean-Paul Gaultier and supermodel Bar Refaeli chat during the final.
Guy Prives/Getty Images
30/38
Serhat, representing San Marino, and Israel’s TV host Assi Azar are pictured together during the evening.
Guy Prives/Getty Images
31/38
Demonstrators protest the Eurovision on the sidelines of the song contest in Tel Aviv.
Bel Trew
32/38
Demonstrators protest the Eurovision on the sidelines of the song contest in Tel Aviv.
Bel Trew
33/38
A UK supporter poses in the Eurovision village in Tel Aviv.
Bel Trew
34/38
This installation is located in the Eurovision village.
Bel Trew
35/38
Crowds gather in the Eurovision village on the sidelines of the contest.
Bel Trew
36/38
Supporters of the Netherlands pose in the Eurovision village.
Bel Trew
37/38
Duncan Laurence, representing The Netherlands, wins the Grand Final of the Eurovision.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
38/38
Duncan Laurence performs “Arcade” after winning the song contest.
Michael Campanella/Getty Images
“This element of the performance was not part of the rehearsals which had been cleared with the EBU and the host broadcaster, KAN.
“The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political event and Madonna had been made aware of this.”
Madonna began her performance by singing her 1989 hit “Like a Prayer” to raucous applause at Tel Aviv’s Expo venue.
She then performed new song “Future”, a collaboration with Migos rapper Quavo who appeared on stage with her.
Earlier in the night she appeared in a pre-recorded message, warning the public to not “underestimate the power of music to bring people together”.
She said: “Look at all the delegates behind us, everyone here is from all over the world. So many countries that I have been privileged not just to visit but to experience.
“And the one thing that brings me to those countries, and the thing that brings all these people here tonight, is music.”
Madonna’s performance comes as she returns following a four-year hiatus.
She is preparing to release Madame X, her 14th album, and earlier this month announced a world tour including a string of shows at the London Palladium.
Additional reporting by agencies
