Writer and public debater Sumaya Jirde Ali reported comedian Atle Antonsen (53) in November after he said at the bar Boca in Oslo that she was “too dark-skinned” to be there. The case was initially dropped by the state attorney. On Friday, the Attorney General decided that the appeal against this decision will not be upheld, and thus the suspension will stand. Atle Antonsen is relieved to be believed, says his defender to NTB. – As the Attorney General points out in the closure, Sumaya Jirde Ali has based her complaint on the basis that Antonsen tried to be funny. Other witnesses have explained the same. Antonsen is also relieved that the Attorney General believes that there is also no basis for concluding that he behaved aggressively, says defender Marianne Klausen in a statement to NTB. At the same time, Antonsen will repeat his regret for the strain he has subjected Ali to. – What Antonsen said to Ali was out of place and thoughtless, says the defender. – Satire In the decision, the Attorney General writes that there are several points in the case that suggest that the statement was not meant seriously. Reference is made to Antonsen’s explanation and that a witness perceived that it could be an attempt at humour. Antonsen had previously sent a supportive message to Ali. After an overall assessment, the Attorney General considers that the statement that she “was too dark-skinned to be at the pub in question must be understood as an unsuccessful attempt to satirize racism,” the decision from the Attorney General states.
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– Atle Antonsen is relieved to be believed – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
