The Free Speech Union (FSU), a campaign group active in public debates over free expression, is confronting a series of internal complaints alleging racism, workplace discrimination and sexually inappropriate remarks by senior staff, the Guardian has reported.
According to employees who raised grievances, the organisation’s chief operating officer, Sigrun Olafsdottir, left her role late last week after an allegation that she told a junior member of staff in a one-on-one meeting late last year that she would “never hire a black person.” The report says the remark was among a cluster of concerns formally brought by staff.
A separate allegation outlined in the reporting involves another senior figure at the group, who is said to have made sexually inappropriate comments referring to the actress Sydney Sweeney’s “assets.” Employees described this conduct as part of a broader pattern of behaviour that they found unacceptable in the workplace.
The Guardian’s account says staff lodged internal grievances over the incidents. The FSU’s leadership and the individuals named in the report have not been quoted in this summary; the original reporting contains further detail on the claims and the timing of the departures. The disclosures have prompted scrutiny of the organisation’s internal culture from current and former employees.
The complaints mark a reputational challenge for the group, which has positioned itself in public debates about free speech. The resolution of the grievances, any internal investigations and responses from those involved have yet to be publicly detailed in the reporting provided.