DR boss defends satirical Greenland sketch

Despite controversy, an episode in the Danish Broadcasting Corporation’s (DR) satire program, ‘Tæt på sandheden,’ about Greenland is considered acceptable, says Nikolaj Vitting Hermann, DR’s head of content and partnerships. Copenhagen Police received complaints, including potential violations of the racism clause, following the episode’s airing. The satirical sketch included a ‘completely neutral’ Danish researcher with Inuit face tattoos, scrutinizing Denmark’s profit from ‘Kæmpe Eskimo’ ice cream sales. Greenlandic MP Aaja Chemnitz criticized the portrayal, equating it to blackfacing. Hermann states the segment intended to critique DR’s recent operations regarding a now-retracted documentary, ‘Greenland’s White Gold,’ not to offend. He admits lacking Greenlandic background and aims to learn from the public’s response to the program. Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt comments there’s little amusement in DR’s handling of the situation but emphasizes the freedom of satire.