Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit was the subject of mockery during the second qualifying round of Sweden's popular Melodifestivalen, a television program that determines the country's next representative for the Eurovision Song Contest. Host Gina Dirawi made a humorous remark linking the number of votes cast by viewers through the show's official app to the number of times Mette-Marit has reportedly been involved with the Epstein documents, suggesting she had 'sweated' through the week dealing with the fallout from the Epstein scandal. This elicited laughter from the audience and highlighted the controversial nature of her recent communications surrounding Epstein's legal issues.

The crown princess had issued a public apology regarding her friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. In her statement, she expressed her deep regret for the association, which has drawn negative attention due to Epstein's criminal history. Mette-Marit’s name appeared multiple times in the so-called Epstein documents, further complicating her public image. Her response aimed to clarify her position and distance herself from Epstein after the details of their relationship became widely known.

This incident underscores the sensitive nature of public figures' associations and the potential for comedic commentary to cross into mockery, especially in the context of serious allegations. While Mette-Marit seeks to mend her reputation through apologies, the humor surrounding her situation at such a high-profile event like Melodifestivalen reflects the ongoing scrutiny public figures face in the age of interconnected media. Her remarks, alongside the jokes made by Dirawi, serve to highlight the balance between public persona and personal accountability in the face of scandal.