Nobel Prize for Literature postponed in wake of sex scandal
Al Jazeera, May 4, 2018
Award
postponed after new details emerge on Swedish Academy’s handling of a sexual
and financial misconduct scandals.
postponed after new details emerge on Swedish Academy’s handling of a sexual
and financial misconduct scandals.
 |
| The Academy said it aimed to award two prizes, including for this year, in 2019 [Fredrik Sandberg/TT News Agency/via Reuters] |
The
Swedish Academy has announced that no Nobel Prize for literature will be
awarded this year, in the wake of a financial and sexual scandal that has
engulfed the body responsible for selecting the winner.
The
Academy said on Friday that it aimed to award two prizes, including for this
year, in 2019.
Academy said on Friday that it aimed to award two prizes, including for this
year, in 2019.
The
controversy comes from Jean-Claude Arnault, a prominent figure in Swedish
cultural institutions.
controversy comes from Jean-Claude Arnault, a prominent figure in Swedish
cultural institutions.
Arnault
has been accused of multiple acts of sexual
assault and harassment,
including one incident in which he allegedly touched Sweden’s Crown Princess
Victoria inappropriately.
has been accused of multiple acts of sexual
assault and harassment,
including one incident in which he allegedly touched Sweden’s Crown Princess
Victoria inappropriately.
Six
members of the group have resigned in recent weeks, including Katarina
Frostenson, Arnault’s wife.
members of the group have resigned in recent weeks, including Katarina
Frostenson, Arnault’s wife.
The Academy cut ties with Arnault in 2017, shortly after the allegations became
public.
Bjorn
Hurtig, the attorney representing Arnault, has said his client denies the
allegations.
Hurtig, the attorney representing Arnault, has said his client denies the
allegations.
The
decision to postpone naming a Nobel laureate was taken at a meeting by the
commitee’s 10 remaining members on Thursday.
decision to postpone naming a Nobel laureate was taken at a meeting by the
commitee’s 10 remaining members on Thursday.
“The
crisis in the Swedish Academy has adversely affected the Nobel Prize. Their
decision underscores the seriousness of the situation and will help safeguard
the long-term reputation of the Nobel Prize,” the foundation said in a
statement released Friday.
crisis in the Swedish Academy has adversely affected the Nobel Prize. Their
decision underscores the seriousness of the situation and will help safeguard
the long-term reputation of the Nobel Prize,” the foundation said in a
statement released Friday.
The
foundation has faced further criticism for providing funding to a cultural
centre headed by Arnault and Frostenson in an apparent breach of conflict of
interest regulations.
foundation has faced further criticism for providing funding to a cultural
centre headed by Arnault and Frostenson in an apparent breach of conflict of
interest regulations.
An
independent investigation commissioned by the Swedish Academy found evidence of
financial misconduct and “unacceptable behavior” by Arnault “in
the form of unwanted
intimacy, but the knowledge was not widely spread in the
Academy”.
independent investigation commissioned by the Swedish Academy found evidence of
financial misconduct and “unacceptable behavior” by Arnault “in
the form of unwanted
intimacy, but the knowledge was not widely spread in the
Academy”.
However,
the investigation found a letter dating back to 1996 which alleged sexual
misconduct on Arnault’s part, suggesting a long history of impropriety.
the investigation found a letter dating back to 1996 which alleged sexual
misconduct on Arnault’s part, suggesting a long history of impropriety.
The
Swedish Academy said in an April statement that it “deeply regrets that
the letter was shelved and no measures taken to investigate the charges.”
Swedish Academy said in an April statement that it “deeply regrets that
the letter was shelved and no measures taken to investigate the charges.”
The delay
for the 2018 prize in literature will not affect other awards, the Nobel
Foundation statement said.
for the 2018 prize in literature will not affect other awards, the Nobel
Foundation statement said.
