Kalla describes the sequence of events during the gala in the book:
“I understood that something was going on when several cameramen gathered around our table. Suddenly Peter Settman appeared. He grabbed my face, held it and gave me a kiss right on the mouth,” she writes and continues:
“He really took me by surprise. What I was involved in live in front of an audience of millions felt outrageous and reprehensible. My integrity took a real hit and I thought: ‘God, what a pain'”.
Peter Settman he took part in the criticism.
— It’s very sad to hear that she felt that way, because that was absolutely not the intention. I almost only get feelings of unease. That certainly did not land well. I really apologize, he says to SVT.
According to Settman, he went into character as Ronny from comedy duo Ronny and Ragge, and the kiss was purely improvisation.
— 2008, it’s been a while, it’s been 15 years. It sounds like not that long ago, but it was a long time ago, culturally speaking. I had thought in a different way (today) when I did the improvisation. It’s just not fun today, says Settman.