He spent his life in front of the camera for Swedish public television, and now his viewers are stunned to hear of the accusations he is facing an ocean away in South Florida.
Bo Gunnar Hansson, 85, was arrested and charged Jan. 8 with lewd and lascivious battery against a 13-year-old boy. Authorities allege the well-known, retired sportscaster groped the teen at a park in Coral Springs.
The story became so big in Sweden, news stations sent reporters all the way to South Florida to cover it.
"It's a big story, and I think at first people couldn't believe it," said Oskar Forsberg, a reporter with Aftonbladet, one of the largest news organizations in Sweden.
Hansson is considered one of the most famous TV personalities in Sweden. He was a longtime sports journalist and commentator who covered the Olympics, the World Cup and other big sporting events.
"You know personalities on screen, people have a relationship to them, their faces and persona," Forsberg said.
Forsberg spoke to Hansson briefly through video chat in jail over the weekend. When Forsberg mentioned he was a journalist, he says Hansson hung up.
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"I spoke with him for 4-5 minutes, and he told me he doesn't feel well and that was about it; (a) quite brief conversation, but he looked a little confused," Forsberg said.
Police in Coral Springs arrested Hansson at the Studio 6 motel off University Drive last week. The motel's general manager said Hansson had stayed there for one month every year for the last three years.
Reporters in Sweden are also trying to figure out why Hansson chose Coral Springs, a suburb in Broward County, as a vacation spot.
"I don't have an answer to that question -- why does he come here?" Forsberg said.
Hansson remains booked at Paul Rein Detention Center in lieu of $100,000 bond.
