2018 Nobel Literature Prize Cancelled Amid Sexual Assault Row

The #MeToo turmoil has engulfed the most prestigious platform for literature -- the Nobel Prize. Following sexual misconduct allegations inside the board, the Nobel Prize for Literature has been cancelled this year, The Guardian reported.

According to reports, the council of authors and linguists has been dealing with many allegations of sexual misconduct by the husband of one of its members. So on Friday (May 4), the Academy decided to not take the event forward this year. Rumours of the leaking of names of some prize-winners ahead of formal announcements also came as a shock. Hence the step. The Academy has assured it will award two prizes in 2019 together.

"The present decision was arrived at in view of the currently diminished Academy and the reduced public confidence in the Academy," it said in a statement

A string of sexual assault allegations have surfaced against French photographer Jean-Claude Arnault, the husband of academy member and poet Katarina Frostenson.

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"Work on the selection of a laureate is at an advanced stage and will continue as usual in the months ahead but the Academy needs time to regain its full complement, engage a larger number of active members and regain confidence in its work, before the next Literature Prize winner is declared," the Academy said.

Nobel Foundation Board chairman, Carl Henrik-Heldin said: "The crisis in the Swedish Academy has adversely affected the Nobel prize. Their decision underscores the seriousness of the situation and will help safeguard the long-term reputation of the Nobel prize. None of this impacts the awarding of the 2018 Nobel prizes in other prize categories."

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