Last month, Bjork alleged that she was the victim of “paralysing” sexual harassment by Lars von Trier during the making of “Dancer In The Dark.” The claims were vigorously denied by the director and his longtime producer Peter Aalbaek Jensen, who rather staggeringly responded that “As far as I remember, we were victims.” However, the allegations go much further, as do the mind-boggling responses by Jensen.
Von Trier’s and Jensen’s production company Zentropa, which plays a huge role in Denmark’s film industry, has been called out for its toxic work culture and the systematic degradation and sexual harassment found within. Nine women have shared their stories with Politiken, and they have a chillingly familiar ring to what has been heard throughout the tales emerging from Hollywood.
Many of the allegations are against Jensen himself, with former employees saying he would “grope their breasts,” “get close and start moaning while they were on the phone,” “ask them to lie across the table or his knee and get spanked,” and even at one time perform “sexually degrading acts” at a company Christmas party, which included measuring the length of female trainees’ pubic hair.
Jensen has actually corroborated the stories but doesn’t seem particularly apologetic about any of it. Even as Zentropa management has pressured Jensen to make work changes, it seems he’s fairly ambivalent about it all and there’s no clear indication what specifically has been demanded by CEO Anders Kjærhauge.
“My future actions will reveal whether I decide to follow the new policy,” Jensen said, adding: “There have been plenty of times when I’ve been over the top or gone too far. And I stand by that fully. But the question is whether you are an adored leader or not. And I am an adored leader.”
It’s an absolute galling lack of self-awareness by Jensen, who clearly doesn’t seem to be listening to the concerns of the management and staff around him.
“It makes you feel inferior, and in addition to that you have been put down by Peter Aalbæk,” a former employee named Julie said. “I have moved on, but I would never recommend anyone to work there.”
Zentropa co-founder Lars von Trier has not commented, and chairman Allan Hansen has declined comment.