Paradise Hotel producers explain why they did not intervene in alleged assault
Two editors from the production team behind Paradise Hotel 2021 have spoken publicly for the first time about their decision not to intervene during an incident that later led to a police report for suspected rape, Swedish public broadcaster SVT reports.
The reality series was abruptly halted mid-season in 2021 following allegations of misconduct and criticism that producers failed to act. In SVT’s documentary Dokument inifrån, editors Gustav Sjöström and Peder Brendmo describe the challenges of balancing participant safety with the show’s format.
“We should intervene as soon as someone is in danger. But not otherwise. It can be hard to judge,” Sjöström said, acknowledging the difficulty in assessing situations in real time. Brendmo added, “He escalates very quickly. This is something all of us missed.”
The incident involved participant Toby Johnson and Annie Dahlberg during Johnson’s first evening in the program. Producers had initially encouraged their potential romantic connection, viewing it as a compelling storyline. “We saw it as a potential love story,” Sjöström admitted.
No one from the production team intervened during the incident. The following day, Johnson was asked to leave due to this and another unrelated incident. A police report was filed six months later, but the investigation was dropped due to conflicting accounts and insufficient evidence to prove a crime.
Both Dahlberg and Johnson later reviewed the raw footage. “The game took over so much that I just went too far in my own behavior. I wanted to run away,” Dahlberg said. Johnson stated, “In my head, I only heard confirmation and what I perceived as mutual attraction. I’m not defending my behavior—it was a mistake.”
Production company Mastiff directed all inquiries to Viaplay, which acknowledged in a statement that “decisions were likely made during the season that, in hindsight, can be reassessed.” The company added that it continuously improves conditions, rules, and production frameworks but declined further comment out of respect for those involved.
Paradise Hotel isolates participants from the outside world, prohibiting phones, clocks, or writing materials. Contestants compete for a cash prize, with eliminations determined by partnership status. After the 2021 controversy, the format was revised, though later seasons reverted to the original concept following criticism that changes made the show “boring.”