Finally. ASAP got a suspended sentence (villkorlig döm) which means that he doesn’t go to jail unless he commits another crime in the next two years. He also has to pay the guy he beat up 12,500 kronor (about 1250 USD) for pain and insult (yes, ASAP is guilty of assault – the self-defence argument didn’t cut it) . Both sides are thinking about taking it to the next level, the Swedish appeals court, but it seems doubtful that they’ll do that. In typical Swedish fashion, no one being 100% happy is the happy compromise.
So much to say. Is there a diplomatic crisis? This is Trump, people. He’ll milk it for as long as he wins home opinion with it and then forget it. Why is he being taken so seriously? Perhaps it is as Elsa Kugelberg writes in DN – that Sweden is unfortunately so dependent on the US for its security, mostly via NATO (to everyone’s irritation), that it is forced to take the president seriously.
Plus, it’s summer, and there is no-other-news.
There is, though, more Rocky news. For one, he’s still releasing music even though he’s behind bars. “Live fast” was recorded well before Rocky’s Sweden visit. The single has been described as “dark” (bit.ly/DNRockySingle).
Then, some woman went crazy screaming at the staff of the Swedish Embassy in Washington. She kicked a tent, and turned over a table, and has apparently admitted to throwing a can of soda at the door of the embassy and yelling that she wanted to blow the f’n place up (). These are bad times on the mental health front.
Former Prime Minister Carl Bildt has responded to Trump’s tweets, but so far (and to his credit because what could he possibly say?), Löfven has declined. Nothing that Carl Bildt, Stefan Löfven or Sweden’s ambassador to the US can say will have any effect on Trump because, well, he isn’t actually speaking to them.
ASAP Rocky has to remain in custody, a Swedish court decided today. According to DN.se, the court considers him a flight risk. Meanwhile, Sweden’s top prosecutor and general secretary of the Swedish Bar Association, Anne Ramberg, came out to say that this would not have happened if Rocky had been Swedish. In another meanwhile, the people accusing Rocky of assault are now also being investigated. And back in the US, the Swedish ambassador to the United States, Karin Olofsdotter, has gone public on TMZ.com to say that coming to Sweden is really “perfectly safe” and that “people are more than welcome” to visit.
The wheels of justice grind slowly sometimes, but this needs to be cleared up. Sweden is regularly criticised by the United Nations for the long time someone can be held without being formally charged (we’re talking really, really long times). As great as it would be if this were the case that got Sweden to seriously look at this issue, it’s still not likely. Change on this issue would make the wheels of justice look zippy.
In solidarity for fellow hiphop artist ASAP Rocky, artist Tyler, the Creator tweeted yesterday ”no more Sweden for me, ever.” It seems that also artist Schoolboy Q will be joining the boycott. What did Sweden do? ASAP Rocky is facing up to six years in prison for assault after an altercation with several fans, according to complex.com. (We know that won’t happen, ever.) ASAP was then denied bail as he was considered a flight risk (like the guy could slip out unnoticed?)
ASAP, and a slew
of other hiphop giants, were in Stockholm for the Smash music festival. His
concert was described as the festival’s high point.
