Bjork's record label defends her against "the lies written by Lars Von Trier"

“In the spirit of #metoo,” Bjork detailed her experience of sexual harassment in the film industry, specifically with a “Danish director.” While Bjork’s statement didn’t name names, she starred in director Lars von Trier‘s 2000 film Dancer in the Dark, and von Trier denied the allegations. In an interview with Danish newspaper Jylannds Posten, von Trier’s business partner, Peter Aalbaek Jensen, said, “as far as I remember, we were victims. That woman was stronger than both Lars von Trier and me and our company together.” Derek Birkett, founder and manager of Bjork’s record label, One Little Indian, has made a statement in her defense. It reads:

I have worked with Björk for over 30 years and have never made a single statement or interview regarding our work together. This time is different.

I have read the lies written by Lars and his producer Peter about Björk – and feel compelled to speak out and put the record straight. Over the last 30 years the Dancer in the Dark project is the one and only time she has fallen out with a collaborator.

This was a result of the directors ongoing, disrespectful verbal and physical abuse which continued after both Björk and myself demanded that he stop behaving this way. Björk completed the film out of respect for the cast and everyone involved. I feel compelled to publicly speak out in fierce support of Björk in regards to her terrible experiences working with Lars Von Trier, and I back what she has said 110%.

– Derek Birkett