Finnish rapper Pyhimys addresses long-term contact with minor

Finnish rap artist Mikko Kuoppala, known professionally as Pyhimys, has admitted to being the musician involved in a long-term correspondence with a minor. The admission follows a report by Helsingin Sanomat regarding a decade-long exchange that began in 2013 when the woman was 12 years old and Kuoppala was 30.

In an interview with Suomen Kuvalehti, Kuoppala acknowledged making mistakes and stated he did not fully understand his position of power while the girl was young. He denied allegations of grooming or pedophilia, asserting he had no specific ulterior motive. The correspondence, which included Facebook messages and emails, reportedly covered topics such as music, philosophy, and literature. The woman, who published a book about the experiences in 2024, stated that the communication evolved to include sexual topics and images after she reached adulthood.

The scandal has resulted in Kuoppala losing his musical assignments and his position in the group Teflon Brothers. Kuoppala also disclosed that he spent the summer at a rehabilitation clinic for alcohol addiction.