Axl Smith
Caro Axel "Axl" Smith (born 10 March 1984) is a former television presenter and entertainer.[1][2] He was a host for MTV Nordic since 2004, a UNICEF Good Will Ambassador 2006–2016 and a recording artist since 2010. He has hosted So You Think You Can Dance Finland in 2010, The Voice of Finland 2011–2016 and The Voice Kids Finland 2012–2014. He was also the Finnish voice of Kristoff in the animated film Frozen.[3] His career as a presenter ended after it came public that he had been secretly filming his sexual partners and sharing a picture and a video of his friend that contained sexually describable material in a WhatsApp group.[4][5]
Axl Smith | |
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Smith in 2012 | |
Born | Caro Axel Smith 10 March 1984 |
Nationality | Finnish |
Occupation | Entertainer, talk show host, recording artist |
Website | www |
Smith was born to an Iranian father and a Finnish mother.[6] His surname comes from his American stepfather, whom his mother married when Smith was young.[7] His maternal grandparents are Swedish.[6]
Controversy
In February 2017, Axl “Cas” Smith was sentenced of having an undeclared video surveillance system following a criminal investigation, which found that he had set up one hidden camera in his one bedroom apartment, which filmed his sexual encounters without the consent of his victims being filmed - he was sentenced to 14 months of probation for secretly filming 29 women having sex.[8] As of August 2018, Smith had paid over 100 000 euros but not the full court ordered retributions to his victims.[9]
On 1 March 2016, Smith was taken by police for questioning regarding allegations on having an undeclared video surveillance system in his one bedroom apartment. It was later revealed that the police are suspecting Smith of filming dozens of women without their consent during sexual intercourse.[10] Due to the media attention, Smith resigned from The Voice of Finland and from his duties as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.[11][12] On 2 February 2017 he received a suspended sentence of 1 year and 2 months and was ordered to pay 150,000 euros compensation to his victims.[4][5]
Smith had posted a picture and a video containing sexual material to a WhatsApp group called "Haippirinki" ("Hype ring"). Other members in the group were Finnish singer Thomas Kirjonen aka Kasmir and producer Henri Salonen aka Hank Solo.[13] Before the trial Smith had sent defiant messages to Kasmir stating that if the filming would ever go to the court "the trial would be made public" and "the bitches would have to come there too and all the material would be revealed".[14] During the trial Smith was trying to defend himself by using a story about a friend called "Peter" who allegedly had been framed for rape that destroyed his life. According to Smith this was the reason for his home video surveillance but it came clear during the trial that "Peter" was a fictitious character.[15]
Discography
- People Come First (2010)
- 80's Babies (EP, 2013)
Singles
- "Get Louder" (2012)
References
- "Axl Smithin salakatseluvyyhti alkoi purkautua vuosi sitten – näin tapaus eteni". Vantaan Sanomat. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
- "Axl Smith sai tuomion salakatselusta: Vuosi ja 2 kuukautta ehdollista vankeutta" (in Finnish). MTV Uutiset. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- "Axl Smith pyysi anteeksi ja kertoi vaikenevansa – yhteenveto tutkinnasta ja kohusta". Nyt.fi. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- "Axl Smith tuomittiin 150 000 euron korvauksiin salakatseluvyyhdistä" (in Finnish).
- "Axl Smithin tuomio julki – ehdollista vankeutta ja jättikorvaukset" (in Finnish).
- Axl Smith City (in Finnish)
- KULISSIEN TAKANA: Muusikko ja MTV:n juontajatähti AXL SMITH Archived 31 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine Metropoli (in Finnish)
- "Axl Smith sai tuomion salakatselusta: Vuosi ja 2 kuukautta ehdollista vankeutta" (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- "Ulkomaille muuttaneen Axl Smithin ulosottovelka on jo 40 000 euroa – kolme uhria odottaa edelleen rahojaan" (in Finnish). Iltalehti. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- "Poliisi epäilee: Axl Smith kuvasi salaa useita kymmeniä naisia" (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- "Salakatselusta epäilty Axl Smith ei juonna The Voice of Finlandin suoria lähetyksiä" (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- "Axl Smith luopuu Unicefin hyvän tahdon lähettilään tehtävästä: "Voin auttaa parhaiten siirtymällä syrjään"" (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- "Axl Smithin WhatsAppin "Haippirinki" paljastui – karut viestit julki: "Bongokausi korkattu"" (in Finnish).
- "Axl Smith viestitteli uhmakkaasti ennen oikeusprosessia: "joutuu akat ite tulee myös paikalle"" (in Finnish).
- "Totuus paljastui oikeudessa: Mystiset Peter ja Trevor olivat Axl Smithin mielikuvitushahmoja" (in Finnish).