Duncan Laurence is depressed and mentally exhausted, but still went to the intensive recordings of Best Singers this weekend. Can AvroTros still look away in 2023?
Setting personal boundaries is a more important theme than ever before. Abuse of a power situation is punished harder than ever. And large media organizations that exploit talents? It’s really taboo now. And yet the ‘mentally exhausted’ Duncan Laurence is currently forced to participate in Best Singers.
Strangling contract?
It is incredibly crazy: Duncan Laurence called on Instagram on Friday that he is completely through it and is postponing his album release due to serious mental problems. But a day later, last Saturday, he started recording Best Singers. Is this a case of strangling contract from AvroTros?
That is exactly what they are asking themselves RTL Boulevard. Because if Duncan isn’t lying about his mental exhaustion, how come the AvroTros just ignores it? And where is his record company? And his management? Have they learned nothing from Better Than Ever, the program about damaged singing talents?
‘How does this work?’
Eddy Zoëy, the host of Boulevard, doesn’t get it. “Five emotional recording days are on the program. They are quite intense, especially for someone who says he is overwrought. What’s up with that? Duncan’s American management has given a rather strange reaction to his participation.”
Voice-over Jeroen Kijk in de Vegte: “Duncan’s Dutch record company again refers to Duncan’s American management and they do not necessarily protect the overwrought singer against themselves.”
Only Duncan’s TV promoter Alice Willems says something: “I understand from management that he is looking forward to Best Singers. Other than that I have not received any response.”
AvroTros responds
Ultimately, the person ultimately responsible in this case is AvroTros, which broadcasts Best Singers and is aware of the situation. Surely they can simply refuse entry to a mentally exhausted singer? However, they also feel no responsibility. “I think these are questions for Duncan and not for us,” says spokesperson Eric Dekker.
Reporter Aran Bade wonders if AvroTros has been waving a contract. “It cannot be otherwise than that it is contractually laid down. That a contract was signed, about a year ago, of: we want you to come along and he has to stick to that.”
scandalous
When Duncan is forced to participate because of that contract with AvroTros, Aran thinks this is an extremely big scandal. “It is incompatible, and actually scandalous, that an exhausted artist is now coming along and has to do very intensive recordings there.”
What about Duncan’s management? “If he is really mentally exhausted, then you shouldn’t do that at all. Management should have stepped in and said, ‘Guys, we’re cracking it open. Then don’t go, because our artist can’t handle it.’ But that didn’t happen either.”
Unsustainable
Duncan must come up with a response to clear the names of the parties involved, Aran believes. Or not so. “I am genuinely curious if Duncan will say anything, because this is actually untenable at the moment. He will soon be singing happily there, while we all think he can’t handle it.”
Colleague Rob Goossens points to AvroTros. “I mean: it is a public broadcaster. Of course you will never say: work takes precedence over health. The moment you take someone who is completely through it to recordings, which are also physically and emotionally heavy … (…) I find it very sad.
promo
The announcement of the candidates: