# Racism against Grace Bullen after 17 May bunad video

Wrestler Grace Bullen was met with racist comments after a 17 May video in bunad. The case sparks debate over who counts as “Norwegian enough”.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/nyheter/grace-bullen-bunad-rasisme-17-mai-2026
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-06-10T14:05:00+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-13T07:35:12.099878+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- 17 May video in bunad Wrestler Grace Bullen posted a video in an Østfold bunad on the national day. It got more than 700,000 views and over 3,000 comments, many of them racist.
- “Pure racism”, says expert The Anti-Racist Centre says the comments show that some still tie Norwegianness to skin colour, and that national symbols are used to mark who is inside.
- Bullen stands firm Most of the hateful comments came from foreign accounts, says Bullen, who stresses that this is not how she experiences Norway.

Wrestler Grace Bullen was met with a flood of racist comments after she posted a 17 May video in bunad. The case has provoked strong reactions and a debate over who counts as "Norwegian enough".

## What happened

On 17 May 2026, the Norwegian wrestler Grace Bullen posted a video of herself in an Østfold bunad on Instagram. The video quickly became a talking point: according to TV 2, it has had more than 700,000 views and over 3,000 comments. Many of the comments were racist. Examples cited by TV 2 include "You are African and belong in Africa", "Our culture is not your costume" and "Zero percent Norway". Several of the messages received hundreds of likes.

## Bullen's own response

Bullen tells TV 2 that she was prepared for the reactions before she posted the video: "I have experienced things like this before. I experience things like this all the time." At the same time, she stresses that the abuse does not affect her personally, and that she sees it as an opportunity to show off Norwegian bunads.

She also points out that most of the hateful comments came from foreign accounts, and that this is not how she experiences Norway: "I know how well I am received in Norway, and this is not what Norwegian people are like." Bullen says she notices more racism now than before, which she links to people more easily hiding behind screens. Back in 2020 she was spat at after wearing a bunad on the national day.

## "Pure racism", says the Anti-Racist Centre

The head of the Anti-Racist Centre (Antirasistisk Senter), Umar Ashraf, reacts strongly to the comment section. "It is pure racism, and it is important to call it that," he tells TV 2. He believes the case shows that some people still tie Norwegianness to skin colour, and that symbols such as the bunad and the flag are increasingly used to mark who is seen as inside and outside the community.

At the same time, Ashraf stresses that many people use the same symbols in inclusive ways, and that opposition to racism is strong in the population. TV 2 notes that Bullen's sister, Yabu Regina Bullen, is employed at the Anti-Racist Centre, but that she had no role in the case.

## Support in the local press

The case has also drawn attention in Bullen's home town. In a column in Fredriksstad Blad, regular columnist Ronnie Krabberød takes a clear stand against those who harass the wrestler, and asks the question "what is Norwegian enough?". He reminds readers that "we are, after all, all descendants of immigrants". The text is an opinion piece and reflects the writer's own views.

## Who is Grace Bullen

Grace Bullen is one of Norway's foremost wrestlers. She came to Norway in 2001 and lives in Fredrikstad. She won bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics and has won several European Championship golds, most recently in 2026 (according to Store norske leksikon and Norwegian media).

## Why it matters

The case touches on themes central to social studies (samfunnskunnskap): national identity, citizenship, integration and protection against discrimination. The question of "who is Norwegian enough" is not about skin colour — in Norway, citizenship and belonging are regulated by law and tied to rights and duties, not appearance.

To understand the framework better, you can read about [Norwegian citizenship and the requirements](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/norsk-statsborgerskap-krav), about [integrating newcomers in Norway](https://samfunnprep.no/en/nyheter/fra-midlertidig-vern-til-arbeid-ukrainernes-nye-fase-i-norge), and about [the ongoing review of immigration policy](https://samfunnprep.no/en/nyheter/norge-starter-gjennomgang-av-arbeidsinnvandringspolitikken).

## FAQ

### What happened to Grace Bullen on 17 May?

She posted a video in an Østfold bunad on Instagram. The video got more than 700,000 views and over 3,000 comments, and the comment section was quickly filled with racist messages, according to TV 2.

### Who is Grace Bullen?

Grace Bullen is a Norwegian wrestler from Fredrikstad who came to Norway in 2001. She won bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics and has won several European Championship golds, most recently in 2026.

### What does the Anti-Racist Centre say about the case?

Director Umar Ashraf calls the comments “pure racism” and says they show that some people still tie Norwegianness to skin colour. At the same time, he stresses that many use national symbols in inclusive ways.

### How did Bullen herself react?

She says the abuse does not affect her personally, that most of the comments came from foreign accounts, and that this is not how she experiences Norway.

### What does this have to do with social studies?

The case touches on national identity, citizenship, integration and protection against discrimination — themes included in the social studies test. Belonging in Norway is regulated by law, not by appearance.

## Sources

- [Kommentarfeltet kokte etter 17. mai-innlegg: – Brutal rasisme](https://www.tv2.no/sport/kommentarfeltet-kokte-etter-17-mai-innlegg-brutal-rasisme/18870446/)
- [Folk som ikke liker Lisleby-jenta Grace i bunad kan bare ryke og reise!](https://www.f-b.no/folk-som-ikke-liker-lisleby-jenta-grace-i-bunad-kan-bare-ryke-og-reise/o/5-59-3917919)
- [Grace Bullen](https://snl.no/Grace_Bullen)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Racism against Grace Bullen after 17 May bunad video", SamfunnPrep, 2026-06-10T14:05:00+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/nyheter/grace-bullen-bunad-rasisme-17-mai-2026