A couple that had sex on stage as 4,000 fans applauded and the extreme grind band THE CUMSHOTS played on at a Norwegian rock festival have been fined 10,000 kroner ($1,470) each.
Tommy Hol Ellingsen, 28, and his 21-year-old girlfriend Leona Johansson were called up on stage during THE CUMSHOTS concert by the lead singer, where they had sex (more photos) for almost 10 minutes as the crowd cheered and the band played on.
"That fine is ridiculous. There'll be no fine here, there'll be a legal process and the whole shebang," Ellingsen told TV 2 Nettavisen on its online news site.
The couple are members of the environmental organization "Fuck For Forest". They have sex in public in order to put focus on the rainforest.
"Today's environmentalists have become more politicians than idealists," Ellingsen said to TV 2 Nettavisen. "We want to bring forth the message with attitude."
According to the organization's web site, " 'Fuck For Forest' are concerned youngsters, fighting to preserve the environment. We believe it is possible to use people's need for sexuality as a way to raise money for nature."
Having sex in public is illegal in Norway and carries a maximum sentence of a year in prison. The five CUMSHOTS band members were also fined 10,000 kroner each, according to News.com.au.
Festival organizers initially didn't take any measures against THE CUMSHOTS singer Kristopher Schau, but later said they wouldn't allow him to be the festival's spokesman on Saturday, as initially planned, Aftenposten has reported. Police were questioning all involved in the stunt on Wednesday afternoon and considering fining the festival.
Local politician Steinar Kristiansen remained furious.
"Kristopher Schau showed here a lack of judgment and defiance for Norwegian law," Kristiansen, who represents the Christian Democrats on the county council for Vest-Agder, told Aftenposten. "Fortunately, not only the conservative Christian Democrats are reacting to this. I hope that members of the public file police reports as well."
Kristiansen also said Schau should never be allowed to perform at the festival again, and that he should be banned from Norwegian television.
Schau, not surprisingly, was delighted with the act and claimed he's just doing his part to protect rain forests. "We've been accused of not having any cause," he said. "Here we've had a fine opportunity to improve our reputation."
Last time Ellingsen and Johansson had public sex, they managed to collect NOK 100,000 ($14,677), but nobody wanted to take the money.
"The goal is to take over the entire commercial porn industry and transfer all the money to protection of the environment," Ellingsen explained.
However, the Rainforest Foundation Norway is not thrilled by the way the small organization has chosen to raise money.
"I cannot see that this helps the work for the rainforest," Lars Løvold, head of the Rainforest Foundation Norway, told TV 2 Nettavisen. "Generally speaking, we accept donations, but if the money is coming from illegal activity, from someone who abuse the rainforest or wish to abuse our name, we say no thank-you. This may be the case here."
