The Matilda Djerf Toilet-Scrubbing Scandal, Explained

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Matilda Djerf has created an empire off her personal brand of effortless, chic, Scandinavian cool. But according to anonymous former employees in her native Sweden, her demeanor is anything but chill.

The former fashion blogger turned influencer turned entrepreneur has been accused of enacting a reign of “psychological terror” as the leader of her fashion line Djerf Avenue—bullying employees, calling a plus-size model “fat,” and once allegedly demanding an employee clean her personal toilet. The bombshell report in Sweden’s newspaper Aftonbladet is slowly making its way to English-speaking social media, where fans are flooding her accounts with questions and criticism. In response Djerf told the paper she felt “truly sorry” and apologized for any instance where a worker felt mistreated.

Here’s everything you need to know, in this edition of TL;DR.

Give me the TL;DR.

Lifestyle, beauty, and fashion influencer Matilda Djerf has been accused by a group of former employees at her company Djerf Avenue of creating a toxic work environment.

Wait, I need more. Who is Matilda Djerf?

Matilda Djerf, 27, is a Swedish influencer with more than 4.5 million followers across TikTok and Instagram. She’s perhaps best known for her Scandinavian cool-girl aesthetic, minimalist and chic fashion, and bouncy blonde hair, the style of which—the butterfly cut—she’s credited with popularizing.

In 2019, Djerf founded her fashion line Djerf Avenue along with her boyfriend Rasmus Johansson, according to The New York Times. The brand sells clothing staples in muted colors as well as hair products, homewares, and more, and ships worldwide.

It has had pop-up stores in places like Stockholm, London, and New York. Djerf also frequently collaborates with other brands, such as a recent limited-edition lip treatment created with Hailey Bieber’s Rhode.

What’s the scandal?

A bombshell report in Sweden’s Aftonbladet has allegations from 11 former and current Djerf Avenue employees of mistreatment and bullying. The report and the accompanying video—which features the accusers telling their stories in shadow—are all in Swedish, but according to an online translation, Djerf has been accused of bullying, favoritism, creating a toxic work environment, being fatphobic, and more.

In one bizarre allegation, an employee claimed to the newspaper that Djerf designated a toilet in the office for the use of just herself and her “favorite” employees, putting a sign on the door reading “please do not use!” in English. When the sign fell down, the newspaper alleges, an employee was made to scrub the toilet because it had been used by an unapproved person.

Djerf herself and Pernilla Bonny, a spokesperson for the company, responded to the allegations in detail, including the toilet claim. When asked if it was “reasonable” that an employee who was not a cleaner should have had to scrub the toilet, Bonny said “obviously” it was not and they would work to rectify the situation. Bonny defended the right of Djerf to have her own toilet in order to “stay healthy” but said the use of it by “favorites” would end.

Others accused Djerf of swearing and acting condescending to her employees, creating an environment full of “terror” in which employees regularly broke down in tears.

“I have never been so afraid of a person in my entire life,” said one, according to a rough translation.

Another recounted an alleged instance where Djerf saw photographs of a plus-size model and claimed she didn’t want to use them because the woman looked “so fat.” In response to claims that the company’s stated values of inclusivity didn’t match reality, Bonny told the paper that “if there are employees who feel that we do not live up to our values, it is obviously something we have to work even harder on.”

In her own statement, Djerf said she doesn’t recognize herself in some of the allegations made but apologized to any employee who felt mistreated.

“I take the criticism that has come forward very seriously and want to be clear that a safe and respectful work environment is crucial for me, both as a person and as the founder of Djerf Avenue,” she said, according to a rough translation. “If any staff member has felt mistreated or ill-equipped in their role due to my actions, that is something I am truly sorry for and apologize for. It was never my intention to contribute to a work environment that negatively affects anyone and I am sorry that there are employees who have had such experiences.”

What does the internet think?

Fans are understandably pissed. On both Djerf’s personal social media accounts and ones for the brand, people are leaving comments in both English and Swedish about how disappointed they were to hear the allegations.

In a follow-up story, a reporter for Aftonbladet said that many followers were saying they would boycott the brand over her alleged behavior.

However, another Swedish woman founder, Cecilia Blankens, weighed in to defend Djerf, saying that a male CEO wouldn’t face the same scrutiny, according to the paper.

Am I going to care about or remember this in two weeks?

It’s hard to say whether the allegations will be a but blip in Djerf’s career and reputation, or if it will have an impact on her brand. But no matter what, you’re probably going to remember the toilet thing, because…come on.

Originally Appeared on Glamour