TV 2 pulls Everyone Loves Rasmus after backlash

Danish broadcaster TV 2 has removed Everyone Loves Rasmus from its TV 2 Play streaming service and issued an unconditional apology after the programme drew heavy criticism, DR reports.

TV 2 programme director Dorthe Thirstrup said the broadcaster had not done enough to protect Rasmus Wallbridge. She said her judgement had failed and that making the programme in the way it did was the wrong decision.

The series follows Wallbridge as he believes he is getting the chance to fulfil his dream of making a feature film. The project is a hoax involving 149 of his friends and acquaintances.

Critics have described the programme as adult bullying, psychological torture and gaslighting. Thirstrup said TV 2 had not put Wallbridge in a fair position, either during filming or when he was deciding whether to support the programme. She said the broadcaster took the criticism seriously and would not work this way in future.