Zara Larsson has been slammed for wearing a dress emblazoned with artwork from convicted murderer and neo-Nazi Varg Vikernes’ band Burzum.
The singer, 25, was forced to apologize after sporting the black dress – which featured artwork from Burzum’s 1996 album Filosofem – to the P3 Guld awards in Gothenburg, Sweden last week.
One-man black metal band Burzum was fronted by Vikernes – real name Louis Cachet – between 1992-1996. Vikernes was convicted of stabbing his former bandmate to death, church arson and stockpiling explosives in 1994.
Vikernes is also known for supporting Nazism and being openly anti-Semitic.
Under fire: Zara Larsson has been slammed for wearing a dress emblazoned with artwork from convicted murderer and Nazi white supremacist Varg Vikernes’ band Burzum (pictured January 26 in Sweden)
Wrong choice: The singer, 25, was forced to apologize after wearing a black dress which featured artwork from Burzum’s 1996 album Filosofem (pictured right) to the P3 Guld awards in Gothenburg, Sweden last week
The dress, which Larsson also showed off on TikTok, also featured artwork from bands Cannibal Corpse and Behemoth – but the singer said she was completely unaware of the band and the controversy the outfit would spark.
Larsson told AftonBladet: ‘Oopsie, had no idea. I just thought my clothes looked cool. It was unfortunate. To clarify, I wasn’t wearing their merch, I was wearing [clothing made by Belgian fashion designer] Raf Simons (with a print of them then, I guess. where part of the artwork for Burzum’s 1996 album Filosofem is visible.’
Despite her protestations, a video of Larsson modeling the dress on TikTok is still up on the platform – where it has attracted mass criticism.
One fan wrote: ‘You know that the guy from that band is a murderer and a nazi right?
Jailed: Vikernes (pictured 2013) was convicted of stabbing his former bandmate to death, church arson and stockpiling explosives in 1994
Controversial: The singer posed up in the dress last week
Still up: Despite her protestations, a video of Larsson modeling the dress on TikTok is still up on the platform – where it has attracted mass criticism
Another wrote: ‘Is this the dress featuring Vargs Buzrum? Pretty hardcore to have a murderes band on a dress aswell burning churches haha.
Another typed: ‘BURZUM ON THE DRESSa nazis band great work Zara’
In August 1993, Vikernes fatally stabbed Mayhem guitarist Euronymous during a row at the latter’s apartment.
In May 1994, Vikernes was convicted of first-degree murder, church arson and possession of explosives. He argued the killing was self-defense and unsuccessfully argued for the charge to be reduced to voluntary manslaughter.
He was sentenced to 21 years in prison – served 15 years and was released on parole in 2009 – moving to France with his wife and children.
He openly supported Nazism during the 1990s and in 2022 said he ‘appreciated’ being labelled as a Nazi.
Murdered: In August 1993, Vikernes fatally stabbed Mayhem guitarist Euronymous (pictured) during a row at the latter’s apartment
Sentenced: In 2014, Vikernes was found guilty of inciting racial hatred and exalting war crimes via an internet blog in France. He was given a six-month suspended sentence and a fine of €8,000 (roughly $10,900) – pictured 2014)
The musician has continued to spark outrage by advocating ‘a pre-industrial European pagan society’ and his active opposition to the Jewish, Islam and Christian faiths.
In 2014, Vikernes was found guilty of inciting racial hatred and exalting war crimes via an internet blog in France. He was given a six-month suspended sentence and a fine of €8,000 (roughly $10,900).
He had previously denied writing the post, tellling the court: ‘At any given moment [there are] 350 people pretending to be Varg Vikernes on Facebook.’
This came one year after Vikernes and his wife were arrested on suspicion of planning a ‘massacre.’
Brushing it off? Zara posed in a colorful dress and furry jacket at SiriusXM in NYC on Tuesday