Malou von Siver's interview with rapper Greekazo in TV4 sparked intense debate last week, after the popular presenter asked several critical questions about why Greekazo's song lyrics contain violence and drug references.

This week the topic was taken up by SVT Opinion Live, and to promote the program the editorial team did a sketch that would run with Malou's interview. Program manager Belinda Olsson, dressed in gold chains and faux fur, reports on the imagined campaign "Rimma schysst" - where they suggest that "resort rappers" should exchange words like the bell and cocaine to the cook and candle.

- Our idea was that we would drive with the moral overtones that we perceived that the TV4 interview had elements of, says Belinda Olsson to Aftonbladet.

Aroused criticism from the audience

But the hip hop satire did not fall into good ground, and has received over 900 comments on Instagram at the time of writing, where hundreds of people write that the sketch is condescending to the hip hop culture, and many believe it is racist.

Among the critics are several well-known artists, including Silvana Imam, Vic Vem, Imenella and Lilla Namo.

"Aren't you ashamed? You are not just "joking" in an embarrassing way with a whole culture and art form. > This is so much deeper. Class contempt, racism, etc, ”writes Vic Vem on Opinion's Instagram page.

Media profiles such as Kakan Hermansson and parliamentary politicians also criticize the initiative.

"Disgusting. Embarrassing. Other, ”writes Daniel Riazat, the Left Party's school political spokesman.

“It is to reproduce stereotypes and make fun of them. Not entirely unexpected considering who this is coming from, though, ”continues the MP.

The majority of the post's 900 comments are critical, but several users also defend the joke.

Apologize

But in the wake of the criticism, the Opinion editors now apologize:

“In the clip, we wanted to parody the sometimes moral forces that want to educate rappers. We have now understood that many have taken a bad turn and interpreted the clip in a completely different way. We regret this and of course the purpose was not to offend anyone ”.

- The criticism that has come is that we are rallying with rap culture and hitting down. It's boring, because that's not what we wanted. But if many people perceive it as such, you cannot be deaf and say that it is not so, says host Belinda Olsson to Aftonbladet.