The lead singer of pop band Í svörtum fötum addressed attendees at the Best Festival by calling the women at the show “whores”, and saying he would not take off his shirt until a woman came on stage bare-chested. He has since apologised for this behaviour.
Jón Jósep Snæbjörnsson, better known as Jónsi í Svörtum fötum, arrived on stage at the Best Festival last Saturday with the greeting, “Gentlemen and whores. Are all the whores having fun?” He then said he wasn’t going to take off his shirt (a performance style Jónsi is known for) unless a girl came up on stage bare-chested.
The remarks would likely offend people at any music festival, but as the Best Festival has put special emphasis on rape prevention – as rapes have become problematic at Icelandic outdoor festivals – Jónsi’s remarks were seen by many to be especially insulting.
Jónsi apologised later that day with the statement: “It happened in the heat of the moment as attendees were having a great time. If it offended anyone at the festival, I am sorry. My intention was not to hurt anyone, nor least of all is it a reflection of how I or Í svörtum fötum regard women.”
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