2024-10-12 09:04:00
HI,
A Swedish journalist found himself in trouble this week after telling a radio listener that his boyfriend should go to Copenhagen and pay for sex. But let’s take a step back…
Henrik Brandão Jönsson, who has lived in Brazil for decades, was one of the guests on “Söndag i P4,” a Sunday morning lifestyle program broadcast on Swedish public radio.
The show, hosted by well-known host Farah Abadi, features a group of guests who chat with each other and give advice to listeners who send in questions.
One of the questions came from a woman who complained that her boyfriend, as much as she loved him, was insecure in bed and as a result their sex life was, well, boring.
After a friendly and cheerful chat between Brandão Jönsson, Abadi and the other guest, chef Jennie Walldén, everything stopped when the former suggested that her boyfriend go to Denmark and buy sex to “learn”.
Buying sex is not only illegal in Sweden (although it is legal in Denmark, hence the suggestion to go to Copenhagen), it’s one of those topics on which there seems to be only one socially acceptable mainstream opinion. If you want to feel a surprise at a Swedish party, declare yourself in favor of sex work or eat the last cinnamon roll.
Not surprisingly, the women in the study reacted strongly. Abadi shouted: “What the fuck are you talking about? Are you stupid? You can’t tell people they should go and buy sex!”
Brandão Jönsson tried to defend himself, saying that this is only controversial to say in Sweden, not in Brazil or anywhere else, adding that “that’s how they do it in Brazil”.
I’m not sure what our Brazilian readers think? I asked the editor of The Local Austria, who is from Brazil, and according to her it’s not at all what they say in Brazil, “maybe in horrible locker rooms, but definitely not to a woman on the radio”.
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It ended with Abadi throwing him out of the studio and telling him he could no longer be on the panel – a move she was initially hailed for. One columnist called her the big sister standing up for the sisterhood and told the “creepy kid” to get out of there.
Many women said they could relate to being in a situation where an older man makes a vulgar or outdated remark — especially one about women — and appreciated that Abadi didn’t laugh, but spoke up and putting your foot down. .
On the other hand, she also received criticism for going too far. Would it have been better to strongly disagree but allow the awkward conversation to take place?
I should mention that Brandão Jönsson himself later apologized. He said he would have liked to contribute jokes on the show, but had essentially misread the room, and pointed out that he wasn’t actually in favor of buying sex at all.
What do you think, was it right to end the discussion or should it be allowed to continue? We discuss this incident in the latest episode of The Local’s Sweden in Focus podcastalong with some of the other big stories of the week.
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In other news
Swedish Democratic leader Jimmie Åkesson got married last month in his hometown, but his the wedding made the news after reporting that the leader of a motorcycle gang was present.
Several students contacted The Local to complain long waits for a residence permit to stay in Sweden and look for work after finishing your studies.
A new investigation has proposed this Sweden bans cousin marriages from next year, as well as the no longer recognition of marriages between cousins that took place abroad.
The Swedish Civil Emergency Agency (MSB) did so has released a new version of its famous booklet “If Crisis or War Comes”.with up-to-date advice on what to do in the event of a nuclear attack, air strike or extreme weather situation.
Next week, Sweden’s Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch will attend the India Sweden Innovation Day in Stockholm in person for the first time, proving that India’s green transition is important even to her less-than-green government, wrote Richard Orange, Nordic editor of The Local. in this week’s Politics in Sweden column.
And apparently there is quite a lot of solar activity at the moment, so if the skies are clear where you are, you might have a great shot to spot the Northern Lights.
Thanks for reading,
Emma Löfgren
Editor, The Local Sweden
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#talk #sexual #gaffe #public #radio
