The Montenegrin band NeonoeN announced their withdrawal from the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 on Thursday after a video surfaced online, showing them allegedly performing a part of their winning song Clickbait at a rock festival in 2023.

NeonoeN clinched victory at the “Montesong” festival on November 27, where the country’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest was selected, but their celebrations were short-lived.

Eurovision rules stipulate that all eligible entries must be new and original. Any song that has been publicly performed or released in part or in whole before September 1, 2024, is deemed ineligible.

Following the emergence of a video purportedly showing the band performing a segment of Clickbait in 2023 at a festival in Podgorica, the Montesong director, supported by the public broadcaster RTCG and the Association of Montenegrin Pop Artists, stated on December 1 that a decision regarding possible disqualification would be made after consulting with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

RTCG and the Montesong organizers indicated this week they are still awaiting guidance from the EBU. However, NeonoeN proactively announced their decision to withdraw from Eurovision on Thursday to eliminate any uncertainty.

“We affirm, and the evidence supports, that the live performance of the preliminary version of the song did not compromise the integrity of the Montesong festival, nor did it influence its results or our standing,” the band stated in an official release.

“Moreover, there have been numerous instances where the EBU has determined that such songs could still participate, including one that won the Eurovision Song Contest, as they did not possess a competitive edge over other entries,” they added.

According to the rules, RTCG will select another representative, and the band expressed that they would be the first to wish the new winner success at Eurovision, set to take place in Switzerland next year.

RTCG, in turn, expressed gratitude to NeonoeN for their gracious message, extended support for the band’s future endeavors, and noted that they will soon appoint another entry.

This year’s Montesong faced significant backlash in both Montenegrin and regional media outlets, criticizing the low voter turnout and the perceived lack of hosting skills from the show’s presenters.