Reykjavík mayor Jón Gnarr has apologised for potentially depicting cyclists negatively in his role as one of the main characters of the Icelandic situation comedy Næturvaktin (Night Shift).
Jón’s character on the show, gas station manager Georg Bjarnfreðarson, is a self-aggrandizing intellectual wannabe with a penchant for putting his foot in his mouth and being generally clueless about how to talk with people. He also rode a bicycle.
Vísir reports that the mayor, in his opening address at a conference called Hjólum til framtíðar 2012 – rannsóknir og reynsla (“Cycle to the future 2012 – research and experience”), specifically mentioned his depiction on Night Shift. He said that many cyclists have told him that the series painted them in a bad light.
For this reason, Jón said he intends to see to it that any clips from Night Shift showing Georg on a bike will be removed from the series.
Below is a clip from the series, with English subtitles. As it shows Georg on his bike, better watch it now before this scene hits the cutting room floor:
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