Miss Snusk was barred from the festival after performing with the Sweden Democrats—while artists with ties to left-wing political events are welcomed. Now, criticism is mounting against the festival’s claims of ”political independence.”.
Miss Snusk was canceled since it became known that she will be a guest on Jimmie ÅkessonHer tour stop in Gothenburg. Festival organizers have explained the decision by noting that, shortly before the festival, she became involved in an ongoing party-political election campaign.
Now the SD leader is questioning this line of reasoning and demanding an explanation of how the festival’s policy is actually applied.
”Please explain the logic behind this”, Åkesson writes in X.
A Different Standard for Other Artists
At the same time, Åkesson points out that Silvana Imam is still booked despite having previously appeared on an election album released by the Feminist Initiative. Imam has also drawn attention on several occasions for his violent rhetoric against the Sweden Democrats. He also points to Cimberly, who on May 1 performed at a Social Democratic event ahead of Magdalena Andersson.
This comparison leads Åkesson to openly question whether the festival organizers’ requirement for political independence is truly applied equally to all artists.
”Does the requirement for ’political independence’ apply to everyone—or only to artists associated with the Sweden Democrats?” writes Åkesson.
Even the SD leadership Mattias Karlsson He levels harsh criticism at the festival. He draws the same comparisons between Fröken Snusk, Silvana Imam, and Cimberly, and accuses the organizer of applying double standards.
”The hypocrisy is grotesque and monumental. This is a stain on Växjö’s reputation.”, he writes on X.
The Minister of Culture Responds
Criticism is also coming from the Moderate Party. Minister of Culture Parisa Liljestrand calls it ”strange” to judge artists based on their political leanings or the parties’ events at which they have performed, reports The Express.
At the same time, she warns that a culture in which artists risk having their performances canceled because of their political expressions or engagements could have consequences for the democratic climate.
– It’s not a sustainable democratic climate, and it’s definitely not something that benefits culture in Sweden.
Industry Profile: ”Freedom of expression is completely gone”
Also Ulf Bejerstrand, with extensive experience in the Swedish music industry and who has worked with, among others, Eddie Meduza, reacts strongly. He argues that the case of Fröken Snusk highlights a much broader issue than a single festival booking—namely, which political views and connections are tolerated in the cultural sphere.
Bejerstrand points out that artists and talent agents typically work for clients across the entire political spectrum. He describes the idea that such an assignment would make the artist politically compromised as unreasonable.
– We should have freedom of expression in this country. As an artist, you should be able to change your style, and you have to be able to perform for anyone., ", Bejerstrand tells Frihetsnytt, I mean, you can't just go up there and ask the audience, like, "Where do you stand politically?" And if they do take a stance, the artist is going to get flak for it.
