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, about integrating newcomers in Norway, and about the ongoing review of immigration policy.
