Three prominent businessmen and the Nordic nation’s most famous news anchor either stepped down or went on leave last week, after a 24-year-old woman accused them of inappropriate sexual acts in an interview on a podcast called Eigin konur on January 4.
While Lazareva did not name the men on the podcast, she has done so previously on social media. The resignations prompted widespread media coverage, as Icelanders grapple with the latest “Me Too” allegations. Following Lazareva’s interview on the podcast, former investment banker Thordur Mar Johannesson left his position as chairman of the board of Festi hf., one of Iceland’s biggest companies. Festi’s new chairman, Gudjon Reynisson, confirmed Johannesson had resigned because of the accusations.
Hreggvidur Jonsson, the founder and biggest owner of health-care holding company Veritas Capital ehf., resigned from its board. In a statement distributed to local media, Jonsson said he “regretted not stepping out of the situation a young woman has reported,” but added he had broken no laws.