Sweden’s Malmö Opera has fired Danish director Michael Bojesen after being accused of sexual harassment.

The company’s board noted that confidence in Michael Bojesen has been exhausted and that the organization needed a new leader.

The news comes after the newspaper Ekstra Bladet exposed some of Bojesen’s activities from the time when he was artistic director of the Copenhagen Opera Festival and spoke about women in inappropriate ways.

Bojesen was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior when he was chief conductor of the Danish Radio Girls’ Choir from 2001-2010 and according to interviews with members, he sent text messages with sexualized content to girls in the choir and changed together with the singers during concerts. 

For his part, Bojesen took to Facebook and wrote “I have just been dismissed from Malmö Opera. It’s been five amazing years and I’m proud of the accomplishments I’ve achieved along with the world’s most competent and dedicated employees. A big thank you for the good cooperation with the board and the great support. Thank you to my management team who have been hardworking, loyal, and talented, and thank you to all the amazing employees who showed a very special strength not least during the corona crisis to show the whole world that performing arts and music drama are life-giving end and important. I’ve never experienced a better workplace where everyone takes responsibility for a good working environment on a daily basis and shows mutual respect. The bosses are leaving, but the Malmø Opera remains! I will now dedicate myself the family that for a year and a half, has been through a nightmare of the biggest dimensions.”

Audience Development Manager Carina Ostrander will take over Bojesen’s position while the company finds a new CEO.