For many of this year’s graduating students, the national meet in Stavanger is one of the highlights of the Russian era.
Thousands of Russians from all over the country gather to go to the various festivals, and there is often a lot of excitement connected to which artists will perform at the various national events.
On 1 February, the program with the very first artists for this year’s national event in Stavanger was released on Instagram.
A number of artists were announced, including G-Eazy (33), Arif (36) and Ramón (24).
In 2022, Ramón guested on Good Morning Norway after he set a Norwegian Spotify record. See video below.
– Angry and very sorry
After the announcement, there must have been a negative response to the artists in the comments section on Landstreff Stavanger’s Instagram profile.
That made the artist Ramón react.
The 24-year-old, who was also a guest at last year’s national event, writes in a post on Instagram that he had been dreading the concert. He explains this by saying that he had heard that the Russians were a difficult audience.
– I get angry and very upset. Completely distasteful comments on both mine and other artists’ posts, writes the artist.
REACTS: The artist Ramón reacted after Landstreff Stavanger announced its first artists. Photo: Screenshot from Instagram.
– And not just the comment section, but also my inbox is now full of hateful comments about my posture, my appearance and how much they want me not to come play.
The 24-year-old further writes that he wants to share the post to “spread the message about this unculture”.
– Seriously, where did it go wrong? Where does all this hatred come from?, he concludes.
Good evening Norway has been in contact with Ramón and his management Universal Music. They do not wish to comment further on the matter.
Landstreff Stavanger answers
Only one hour after Ramón shared his post, the national meeting itself commented on the matter.
“If there’s one thing we know after over 35 years with LS, it’s that our guests are warm, inclusive and take care of each other in a universe where boys like boys, girls like girls, and boys and girls like each other,” writes the national meeting on his Instagram.
The organizers of the national event are reacting to the statements that have come via social media.
That’s what Aasmund Lund, press contact in the “Lund group arrangement” which is behind Landstreff Stavanger, says.
To Good evening Norway, Lund tells that they chose to publish the post to show that they react to hate, discrimination and harassment.
– We feel that the graduating students for 2023 have taken many initiatives to be more inclusive and respectful towards each other. Then there is a small minority who have clearly not learned what is okay to say – neither online nor anywhere else.
Furthermore, he says that people who write messages that are discriminatory and harassing are blocked and deleted.
– We keep a close eye on our surfaces, and do what we can to ensure that such expressions do not gain ground, claims Lund.
– We were shocked
The Russian girls Synne Varhaug Lie (18) and Anette Orre (18) from the Russian group “Live it up 2023” are among the graduating students who have thought about the Russian meeting in Stavanger.
SHOCKED: The Russian girls Synne and Anette were shocked when they saw what people wrote in the comment fields. Photo: Private.
They say that they found it very sad and unnecessary that people hated the artists at launch.
– We were very shocked by what people wrote in the comment fields, shares Orre to Good evening Norway.
The girls think several of the groups who comment are doing so in an attempt to be funny, while at the same time wanting attention.
– I think they write without thinking about it, and that the artists can actually see it, says Lie.
The 18-year-olds are themselves from Stavanger, and have the impression that most of their Russian environment surrounds the artists who experience harassment in LS’s comment section.
– A lot of people reposted the picture that the national meeting posted on Instagram, and showed that they did not want to be part of that hate, says Lie.
– Embarrassed by the Russian
Katarina Rosland Hebnes (18) from the Russian group “BQ 2023” tells Good evening Norway that the Russian group was particularly happy when they saw that Ramón was one of the artists going to the national meeting.
NORMALIZED HATE: Russian girl Katarina Hebnes believes that hatred has become more normalized among Russians. Photo: Private
Therefore, it was extra sad when the group was made aware of the incitement that arose in the comment fields.
– We get quite embarrassed to be part of Russia in situations like this, she shares.
She herself believes that the majority of Russians do not agree with the statements, but she points out that the hatred contributes to putting all Russians in a worse light.
Furthermore, she reflects on the fact that hatred has become more normalized among Russians.
– The Russian community today bears the enormous stamp of being the best group, with the most followers and likes. It has sort of become a competition. I think many people have lost their grasp of what the Russian era is really about.
Hebnes adds that she believes it is unacceptable to make similar statements, regardless of whether the person in question is an artist or not.
– Although we know that the Russians can make some violent statements, we never imagined this, she says.
