The kiss was the end of a sketch in which Peter Settman stepped into his old role as Ronny, from the comedy duo Ronny and Ragge.
He first handed out a scented tree for Kalla’s fine finish at the Tour de Ski, where she hummed Ronny and Ragge’s song “Køra fort som fiend”, before he gave her a kiss on the mouth.
“I got really angry but didn’t know how to behave,” Kalla writes in her book.
Settman has read the excerpt from the book:
– 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 landed absolutely nothing good, he says to SVT.
Improvised during the gala
The kiss made headlines in 2008, mostly because Kalla fell ill after the gala and was unable to compete in the World Cup. Settman says that the kiss was not planned, but an improvisation in the moment.
– 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.
When Luis Rubiales kissed Jennifer Hermoso on the mouth this summer, many people shared this clip, what do you think?
– There was a difference. Because I think you always have to think about intent. Had I stepped forward and in the role of Peter Settman, presenter, just been like this: “Thank you for a great performance.” And kiss her right on the mouth. There had been no joke in that. Not in 2008 either, I mean. That’s what I felt he (Rubiales) did.
– I don’t know the man, but my interpretation was that he thought he could take the liberty of kissing her. Like some kind of “thank you”. I don’t mean I felt that. Today, even in the role of Ronny, in an improvisation, I would not have gone there for those very reasons. You have changed yourself in how you do things, says Settman.