It has been quiet from Sophie Elise in recent days after the much talked about picture she posted on Instagram on Sunday night.
Also in Thursday’s episode of the podcast “Sophie & Fetisha” the picture is not mentioned in a single word.
Together with her friend Fetisha Williams, she has the NRK podcast, which was launched in September.
The friends talk about a number of topics during the 50-minute long podcast, but steer clear of talking about the controversial photo.
PROMO: This image was used to promote the podcast collaboration between Sophie Elise, Fetisha and NRK. Photo: Henriette Dhli
– When I was sitting in the car on the way here today, I thought “how does the song fit the mood I’m in now? Miley can you help me?” Absolutely not, says Sophie Elise at the beginning of Thursday’s episode.
At the very end of the episode she says:
– “We love you”, and appreciate you more than ever, at least for me. Every single person who says something nice or normal to me. Truly, from the bottom of my heart. I cherish every second of it.
The Instagram photo
There has been a storm around NRK and Sophie Elise in recent days after the influencer posted a picture on Instagram on Sunday. There was one detail in particular that created a furore.
In the photo, Sophie Elise is standing with another influencer, who is holding a small plastic bag with what looks like a white powder in it.
The image was shortly afterwards removed from the platform.
Several have criticized both NRK and the influencer. NRK came out on Tuesday and said that the picture would not have any consequences for the collaboration, after they had had a “thorough talk” with Sophie Elise.
Beyond that, they would not comment on the matter.
– An accident
On Wednesday, TV 2 was in contact with a person close to the two influencers. The person has received consent from the two to convey the following to TV 2:
– The other influencer did not know that the picture was to be published, and has never consented to this. Sophie Elise published the photo by accident.
PHOTO: This photo was published on Sophie Elise Isachsen’s Instagram profile on Sunday. Shortly afterwards it was removed. It is particularly the detail in the lower right-hand corner that has led to reactions. Photo: Screenshot Instagram
They did not want to comment beyond that, including what was in the bag.
TV 2 also does not know the contents of the bag.
TV 2 has so far chosen not to identify the other influencer.
– Must lie flat
Media expert Arne-Inge Christophersen, who is general manager and advisor at Marketing Toolbox, was not shy when he commented on the situation the two influencers are in to TV 2 on Wednesday.
He was very clear on what the influencers should do now.
– They have to lie flat and say that they didn’t think twice when they did this. The fact that they didn’t do this right away shows immaturity.
If there were no drugs in the bag, he believes that they should also publicly deny this.
He was not the only one who believed that the influencers must speak out on the matter.
ASKS QUESTIONS: Bodahl-Johansen questions the fact that the influencers choose to remain silent. Photo: Martin Berg Isaksen / TV 2
– It is a problem that people who possess so much power do not want to answer questions. In order to have a functioning democracy, we must have an open debate where people with power must find themselves responding to criticism, says press expert Gunnar Bodahl-Johansen.
He believes this applies to influencers, politicians and business leaders.
Internal disagreement in NRK
Several reacted to NRK’s statement that the picture had no consequences for the collaboration, including within NRK.
– If it had been a permanent employee at NRK, there would have been consequences, said the head of the Norwegian Journalist Association’s NRK branch, NRKJ, Rolf Johansen to TV 2 on Tuesday.
The ethics editor at NRK, Per Arne Kalbakk, did not agree.
– We do not agree that this case is an example of discrimination between permanent employees and contractors when it comes to posting on social media, he told TV 2.
DISAGREE: Ethics editor at NRK, Per Arne Kalbakk, says that a permanent employee at NRK would have received the same treatment as Sophie Elise if the same had happened. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen
– If a permanent employee had posted a similar picture, and given NRK the same explanation as Sophie Elise has given, our assessment would have been the same: That this would not have had any consequences for the working relationship at NRK.
In third place
On Wednesday morning, member of the Broadcasting Council and former politician, Trude Drevland, asked that the matter be taken up at the next meeting, which is on 9 March.
There are currently over 2,000 complaints registered with the Broadcasting Council in connection with the Instagram post.
It is thus the third most filed case in the Broadcasting Council’s history.
