Eurovision’s Eden Golan says fears for her life persist after antisemitic threats
Israeli singer reveals lasting trauma and security fears following protests and hostility during and after 2024 contest
Israeli Eurovision contestant Eden Golan has said she continues to live in fear and experiences recurring nightmares after facing widespread threats and protests linked to antisemitism during and after the 2024 competition.
Nearly two years on from representing Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, the 22-year-old said the experience has left a lasting psychological impact.
“I’m always afraid. I look in every direction like a security guard,” she said. “I’ve had recurring anxiety since Eurovision… I have recurring nightmares of people chasing me and killing me.”
Golan described a constant sense of vigilance in public spaces, saying she often fears being attacked. Despite this, she added: “I’m learning to live with it. No one will silence me anymore.”
Her comments reflect the continued pressures faced by Israeli performers abroad amid heightened tensions following the 7 October attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza.
Golan said protests have accompanied several of her international performances, including demonstrations in Switzerland where red paint was thrown at a venue entrance – an apparent reference to accusations levelled at Israel over the conflict.
“There was one protest with signs against Bibi and against me,” she said, adding that the volume of threats has continued to “definitely fear for my life”.
Since her Eurovision appearance, Golan has maintained a demanding international schedule, performing across dozens of countries and taking frequent flights. She described the pace as disorientating, saying: “Sometimes I wake up in some country and don’t remember where I am… because everything blends together.”
Alongside her global performances, she has continued to appear at major events in Israel, including national ceremonies and television programmes.
Her latest single, Sexy, has also drawn criticism, with some accusing its accompanying video of being provocative. Responding to the backlash, Golan defended her artistic choices.
“I do what feels right to me and what I believe in”, she said. “Am I supposed to cover myself in a hijab… so no one says anything?”
Her remarks underline the intersection of cultural scrutiny and security concerns faced by Israeli artists on the global stage, particularly as antisemitic incidents continue to rise internationally.