Jenna Ortega is sparking backlash for her alleged romantic linkup with Iceage frontman, Elias Ronnenfelt. Here's why he is so controversial.
Jenna Ortega has found herself back in the headlines, but this time, it's for a controversy. The Wednesday star is facing more scrutiny for her controversial choices in men. The 23-year-old actress was recently spotted hanging out with controversial Danish musician Elias Ronnenfelt, sparking fresh dating rumors and a wave of scrutiny over his past.
In a clip that recently went viral on social media, allegedly captured in Dublin on March 22, 2026, Ortega was captured with Ronnenfelt, the frontman of Iceage, sitting together in a close, possibly romantic setting. Fans quickly connected the dots, given that the pair had already been linked in late 2025.
The internet has since exploded with critical comments on Ortaga's questionable choice, considering Ronnenfelt's highly controversial past. So, who is this Danish musician who has led the internet to warn the actress against him?
Elias Bender Ronnenfelt is a Danish poet and musician, best known as the frontman of punk rock band Iceage. Born in Copenhagen in March 1992, he earned his fame for his music in the punk rock genre. He has been an active part of the music scene since his late teens, founding Iceage in 2008 when he was just 17 years old. His band has built a cult fan following with its raw and chaotic sound that blends punk, post-punk, and experimental rock.
Ronnenfelt has built a fanbase with both his band and solo music, most popularly Iceage: The Lord's Favorite (2014), Seek Shelter (2021), Heavy Glory (2022), and Speak Daggers (2026). However, beyond music, controversy has long been his companion. Much of the backlash that has now resurfaced after the Jenna Ortega linkup traces back to some of his artwork from his teenage years and his history with Iceage.
Ronnenfelt's band, Iceage, found itself neck-deep in controversy within a year of its formation. The frontman was only 18 years old when some of his band's artwork drew criticism for its imagery. Ronnenfelt drew symbols that included imagery associated with neo-Nazi and fascist symbolism. In past interviews, the musician has said the visuals were taken from an ’80s film and not intended as political statements. In an interview with Pitchfork, Ronnenfelt said:
“When a lot of these allegations came out, we were dumbfounded. Now I understand that we hold a responsibility on our shoulders to make it clear what we stand for... What some people took from it was not our intent. I hope that it’s very clear, and I think it is for anybody who has followed us, that we are most definitely not right-wing and we don’t have any sympathies or leanings to that side."
Still, for many fans, that explanation hasn’t been enough. Ronnenfelt has also faced backlash over Iceage’s decision to platform a band with a racially offensive name at a curated event. He later admitted it was a “failure of judgment” and said he regretted not intervening. In the same Pitchfork interview, he acknowledged that Iceage was responsible for inviting and giving a platform to the controversial band. He admitted:
“There’s no way of excusing this. They weren’t a band that had ever played before. They were some people that we knew were active in Antifa activism. I don’t know what the f*ck their intent was with that [band name]. I f*cking deeply regret that we failed to speak up there and prevent it, and that we failed to see how f*cked up and harmful having a band… I’m embarrassed to have shared a stage with a band with that name.”
Besides these major controversies, Elin Ronnenfelt has occasionally found himself in the middle of other fallouts, with allegations scattered around his alleged aggressive behaviour at live shows, including claims of confrontations with audience members. While none of these incidents are new, Ortega’s rumored connection to him has pushed them back into the spotlight. However, many internet users have also rallied in support of the Iceage frontman, saying that the 34-year-old's current life should not be judged for something he did decades ago, when he was relatively young.
What's fuelling the backlash is Jenna Ortega's public image as an advocate for humanitarian issues. The actress has often been vocal about her stance on matters of social justice and global conflicts. Now, with her linkup with a controversial character like Elin Ronnenfelt, she has been a target of online criticism.
So far, neither Ortega nor Ronnenfelt has addressed the dating rumours or the backlash. In 2025, the actress appeared in Ronnenfel's music video for the track Mona Lisa, released as part of his recent solo album, Speak Daggers. The two were seen in a romantic position in the video, but neither has responded to the rumours.
Ortega has long been secretive about details of her personal life, despite occasionally making headlines with her past co-stars and actors like Devin Booker and Johnny Depp. However, she has never confirmed any of the rumours, once saying that she finds relationships “stressful” and prefers to focus on work.
Now, with her rumored relationship under a microscope, fans are looking back at the Iceage frontman's dark past. What are your thoughts on this?
Also Read: Meet UConn's Geno Auriemma's Wife, Kathy And Their Kids Amid His Postgame Clash With Dawn Staley