Earlier this week, it became known that Subjekt editor and reality contestant Danby Choi (30) will give a speech on 17 May and lay a wreath at Henrik Ibsen’s grave at Vår Frelser’s cemetery in Oslo.
– This immigrant boy from east Oslo had never thought in his life that he would receive such an honorable assignment from the capital’s May 17 committee, Choi told Nettavisen.
But not everyone is equally excited that it is he who will give the May 17 speech in the capital.
Also read: Danby Choi struggled to keep her friend’s secret: – Difficult
On the Underskrift.no platform, one has been created signature campaign under the name “NO to those who publicly support rapists to give a speech on 17 May in Oslo”.
“Danby Choi has publicly supported an accused rapist, and now he will have the honor of giving a speech on Norway’s birthday in front of the Norwegian people,” the description says.
Oslo newspaper mentioned the matter first.
Danby Choi answers further down in the case.
At the time of writing, over 14,000 people have signed the digital signature campaign.
also read
Broke down after TV recording: – Was terrified
Strikes back: – I have never supported rape
The name of the petition refers to when Choi published a video on TikTok at the beginning of November together with one of the men convicted of assault at the time in the much talked about gang rape case in Bergen.
The man was sentenced under Section 303 of the Penal Code to one year in prison and two months suspended imprisonment. He was also sentenced to pay NOK 80,000 in restitution to the victim.
His sentence was not appealed to the Court of Appeal, as three of the other five men were.
Choi later apologized for the video to Nettavisen, saying he had shown poor judgement.
Nettavisen has asked Choi on Sunday evening if he wants to respond to the signature campaign against him.
In a long and comprehensive reply, he writes, among other things, that he “understands that most of the signatures are children who have been encouraged on TikTok, but that the stories they are told are seriously false”.
– I can recommend them to read my book, “Cancel me if you can”, he writes.
also read
The participants yell at the viewers: – Unacceptable
– I have never supported rape, that goes without saying. In this case, I “supported” no one, and the person it seems to be referring to is acquitted. The wording of the petition is fraudulent and misleading and appears to be designed to create a false impression, created by people who want to smear me.
– I will give the keynote speech and pay tribute to Henrik Ibsen’s grave on 17 May. Maybe he will be the only one who likes the speech I intend to give. At least I think so. He was, if possible, more contrary than me.
Read the full response to Danby Choi here:
Is this a call to write a new book? Those who believe that the cancellation culture does not exist. What do they call this? They can at least confirm that the cancellation culture is alive and well. They want me to stop speaking out in public. I will never do that. And I will spend more time defending those who are condemned in society. That’s the only thing this campaign inspires me to do.
I understand that most of the signatories are children who have been encouraged on Tiktok. But the stories they are told are seriously false. I have never supported rape. I have also never been interested in “supporting rapists”. I have been concerned with legal protection, freedom of expression and care – also for people who may have done something wrong.
Today I feel a bit like Doctor Stockmann in “An enemy of the people”. And I have received a lot of inspiration for the speech I will give. In Norway, fortunately, it is freedom of expression, and not a culture of cancellation, that binds us together. It is well known that I have strong opinions on various topics. That’s my job. Then it is also natural and good that people disagree with me. But when they demand that people whose job it is to say things be deprived of their opportunities to speak, I don’t think they really understand what they are really asking for.
Disagreement is good, but to stifle this disagreement is really a disservice. The cancellation culture is alive and well, that’s for sure. I wish they would try to argue against me, about what I have said that is wrong, and not try to deprive me of my vote. This is how I myself would never go out against someone I disagree with.
Unfortunately, I think that many people stop speaking out about, for example, men’s legal protection, because there are such steep fronts and signature campaigns and strong wishes to have it canceled as soon as you try to talk about it. It’s really not very good.
I can recommend them to read my book, “Cancel Me If You Can.”
I’m not going to stop expressing myself critically on various topics, and I encourage everyone else to have their say. It’s fine if you think the opposite of me, but trying to silence, silence and censor people will not lead to anything good.
I have never supported rape, that goes without saying. In this case, I “supported” no one, and the person it seems to be referring to is acquitted. The wording of the petition is fraudulent and misleading, and appears to be designed to create a false impression, created by people who want to smear me.
I will give the keynote speech and visit Henrik Ibsen’s grave on 17 May. Maybe he will be the only one who likes the speech I intend to give. At least I think so. He was, if possible, more contrary than me. Ibsen exposed the abuse of power and exposed double standards and taboos. As Subjekt editor, I am inspired by the tireless work he did. He was curious and disrespectful and tore down closed doors.
The 17 May committee responds
Mehmet Kaan Inan (27), a member of the 17 May Committee in Oslo from the Right, was the one who appointed the editor to the assignment.
Nettavisen has been in contact with Inan on Sunday evening, who states that he does not wish to comment on the matter at the present time.
Bjørn Revil (FrP) is the leader of the 17 May committee. He tells Nettavisen that he thinks Choi will be a good speaker on National Day, and adds:
– It is the individual party that decides who will give a speech. So when the representative of the Conservative Party wants Danby to be the speaker, it is my opinion that the committee should respect that, says Revil.
Correction: Nettavisen wrote in an earlier version of the case that the man in whom Danby Choi participated in the TikTok video was first convicted in the district court, and that the case was later appealed to the Court of Appeal where he and two other men were acquitted and ordered to pay compensation to victims of NOK 240,000 each. It is not true. The man was sentenced under Section 303 of the Penal Code to one year in prison and two months suspended imprisonment. He was also sentenced to pay NOK 80,000 in restitution to the victim. His sentence was not appealed to the Court of Appeal, as three of the other five men were.