Pyhimys väittää: ”Saana uhkasi tuhota mun elämän”

Summary

In an interview with Iltalehti’s Sanna Ukkola, musician Pyhimys (Mikko Kuoppala) described his years-long messaging relationship with Saana Airtola, which began when she was 12 and he was an adult in his thirties. He said he initially replied to a fan letter and continued communicating because he saw Airtola as lonely and in need of support. He characterized much of the relationship as personal encouragement and writing mentorship, but acknowledged that calling them “soulmates” was a serious error of judgment and that he became too personally involved.

Kuoppala said Airtola developed a strong crush on him. He claimed he believed her feelings would pass and did not understand how intense or consequential they were. He acknowledged leaving open the possibility that they might become a couple years later, but said he did not intend to pursue a relationship. He also said he tried to direct her toward professional help when she threatened self-harm, and that attempts to end contact—including one in 2014—did not hold.

The interviewer challenged Kuoppala about the power imbalance, his jealousy when Airtola dated others, and sexual messages and images exchanged after Airtola was an adult. Kuoppala denied exploiting his position or having a romantic agenda, while conceding that he handled the relationship wrongly. He said Airtola sent sexual messages and images and asked for sexual material, and that he eventually sent something she requested. Asked about differing accounts in earlier interviews—first denying sexual content, then acknowledging it—he disputed that his account had changed, saying the messages were largely one-sided but that he had agreed to send something.

Kuoppala also said he provided financial help, lent Airtola money, and bought her prescribed sedatives. He said he believed he was supporting her and choosing what seemed like a less harmful way for her to obtain money. He accepted that she may feel he encouraged her infatuation, but said he had not understood the relationship that way at the time.

He said the published story had cost him work and damaged professional relationships, and that Teflon Brothers continued without him. He described being shocked by the public reaction, including being called a pedophile and receiving death wishes. He said he had sought treatment, was sober, and did not see himself as depressed, though he had been in shock during the summer. He said he would take responsibility for what happened and leave any return to performing to the audience.

Presenters and Contributors

• Sanna Ukkola: Interviewer
• Mikko Kuoppala (Pyhimys): Interviewee
• Saana Airtola: Discussed in the interview