Swedish Academy Cancels 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature Amid Sexual Abuse Scandal

The Swedish Academy has announced it will not award a Nobel Prize in Literature in 2018, marking an unprecedented cancellation. This decision follows months of internal conflict stemming from sexual assault allegations against French photographer Jean-Claude Arnault. Arnault's wife, poet Katarina Frostenson, resigned from the Academy in April, along with the institution's head and four other members. The Academy cited its 'currently diminished' state and 'reduced public confidence' as reasons for the postponement. Two winners will instead be selected in 2019. The controversy has sparked intense debate in Swedish media. Arnault denies all accusations. Only the literature prize is affected, as other Nobel categories are judged by separate expert panels rather than Academy members.