Minister of Education Tonje Brenna (Labor Party) attended a party on Tuesday night under the auspices of the think tank Agenda. In her speech, she joked about the engagement between Durek Verrett and Princess Märtha.
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The party was held at the nightclub Dattera til Hagen in Greenland in Oslo on Tuesday night.
The think tank Agenda’s leader, Trygve Svensson, welcomes guests to tonight’s party.
The Minister of Education was one of the guests and out in the company she gave what was perceived as a fun and relaxed speech.
In the speech, she touched on one of Tuesday’s big news items: Durek Verrett and Princess Märtha have become engaged.
Then, according to Svensson, she must have joked that Princess Märtha, when she marries a shaman, can get a new title: As a witch.
Also read: Demanded 50,000 for engagement photos – says it’s a misunderstanding
Several responded
Several of the guests reacted to the incident, because Brenna as Minister of State sits at the King’s table – and that it is therefore not appropriate to say such a thing, even if it was only meant as innocent humor.
No one wants to stand out, because it can be stigmatizing.
Svensson laughs.
– I think that joke was quite witty. What politicians do you get if you can not joke a little about the big talk that day, as the engagement was, he says.
–– She said that she came from the Storting, where it was joked about the engagement. She said she wondered what Princess Märtha’s title would be when a shaman and princess found each other. Can it be a “witch” ?, says Svensson.
– At least I laughed, says Svensson.
–He says that the royal family has shown the way in its openness and inclusion.
– We have become accustomed to Princess Märtha having a very alternative outlook on life. She is part of an inclusive royal family that we appreciate. That it can be joked about, I think is perfectly fine.
– Not hard enough
He adds:
– I think the joke there is so careful that it had not reached “New again”, because it was not hard enough.
Verrett has claimed to be the sixth generation shaman, which, among other things, can change states of consciousness to achieve contact with the spirit world.
– Innocent joke
Brenna says it was a joke about the future title after the engagement.
– I made an innocent joke that referred to something I heard on the way out of the Storting about today’s big talk, about what the princess title and the shaman title will be if they are merged.
– Did not mean to offend anyone
She thought it was inside.
– Of course I did not mean to offend anyone, and it was just good and humorous meant on my part. Personally, I always cheer when someone finds love, and I want to wish Märtha and Durek all the best and good luck with the engagement and marriage.
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