Photo: Press

Film director Lars Von Trier has denied Björk’s allegations that he sexually harassed her during the making of the 2000 movie, Dancer In The Dark. Writing on Facebook, the Icelandic singer said that she was moved to speak out following the allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein.

Responding to Björk’s comments on Danish newspaper Jyllends-Posten, von Trier said: “That was not the case. But that we were definitely not friends, that’s a fact. On the other hand, she delivered one of the greatest-ever performances in my movies.”

In her original post, Björk wrote: “I am inspired by the women everywhere who are speaking up online to tell about my experience with a Danish director… it was extremely clear to me when I walked into the actress profession that my humiliation and role as a lesser sexually harassed being was the norm and set in stone with the director and a staff of dozens who enabled it and encouraged it.

“I became aware of that it is a universal thing that a director can touch and harass his actresses at will and the institution of film allows it. When I turned the director down repeatedly he sulked and punished me and created for his team an impressive net of illusion where I was framed as the difficult one.”

Dancer In The Dark bagged Björk a best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000.

Producer Peter Aalbaek Jenson, who worked with von Trier on Dancer In The Dark as well as other films, also rejected her claims saying that he and the director “were the victims.”

“As far as I remember we were the victims. That woman was stronger than both Lars von Trier and me and our company put together. She dictated everything and was about to close a movie of 100m kroner [$16m],” he said.