Comedian Rasmus Wallbridge was the unwitting subject of a four-month deception intended to be a film. After its October 26 premiere on TV 2, the prank show Everyone Loves Rasmus was pulled following signnificant public backlash in Denmark.
Four months of hidden cameras in coffee cups and clothing
The production of Everyone Loves Rasmus relied on a sophisticated and prolonged web of deception designed to trick comedian Rasmus Wallbridge. according to the report, Wallbridge spent four months working alongside his longtime creative partner, Martin Johannes Larsen, under the belief that they were developing a feature-length horror-comedy. Instead, the project was revealed to be an elaborate hidden-camera prank show produced for the Danish broadcaster TV 2.
To capture the comedian's genuine reactions, the production team utilized an array of highly discreet surveillance tools:
- Hidden cameras tucked behind mirrors
- Devices disguised as coffee cups and USB sticks
- Cameras sewn directly into Wallbridge's clothing
While Wallbridge expressed that he "threw himself 100 percent" into the project because it was a personal dream, the scale of the deception was massive. The report notes that over 100 people were involved in the production, including various Danish celebrities who were aware of the ruse.
The 'Everyone Loves Rasmus' backlash and the gaslighting debate
The premiere of the series on October 26 triggered an immediate and intense public outcry in Denmark, leading TV 2 to pull the program less than a week after its debut. Critics have leveled serious accusations against the broadcaster, claiming that the production amounted to a prolonged act of gaslighting against Wallbridge. while Martin Johannes Larsen defended the concept as a "homage" to Wallbridge's talent rather than a mockery, the public response suggested a much more predatory dynamic.
The fallout from the broadcast extended beyond the television screen, with TV 2 reporting that several cast members, their families, and other production staff received abusive messages and direct threats.. Wallbridge himseelf addressed the controversy on Instagram, stating that he was aware of the public debate but chose to remain silent. He compared the surreal experience to the Danish comedy Klovn, a show centered on an awkward comedian who is frequently manipulated by a more successful friend, highlighting the unsettling nature of being the subject of a joke without knowing it.
Whether Wallbridge could actually block the TV 2 broadcast
A central point of contention remains the degree of agency Rasmus Wallbridge actually possessed during the final stages of the production . TV 2 stated that Wallbridge was informed of the prank's true nature before the show aired and was explicitly given the power to block the broadcast . however, the report highlights a significant counter-argument from critics who suggest that the sheer number of influential figures involved in the production may have made it impossible for him to say no.
This raises critical questions about the ethics of high-stakes prank television and whether professional pressure can negate consent in a media setting. It remains unverified whether the presence of high-profile Danish celebrities created an environment where Wallbridge feared career repercussions if he attempted to stop the release. As of now, TV 2 has not announced whether Everyone Loves Rasmus will be revived or if the footage will be scrapped entirely, leaving the ultimate fate of the project in limbo.
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