Slate:

If you’ve ever met a Swede, chances are you asked her the following question: “What do you think of [ABBA/Ikea/The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo/socialized medicine/the Swedish Chef]?” For Swedes, it’s the last of these questions—the one about the unintelligible, shotgun-wielding, and much beloved chaos Muppet—that is especially vexing.

Remember the Fawlty Towers episode where Basil says, “don’t mention the war!” Well, apparently Swedes can be a bit touchy about being asked about The Muppet’s Swedish Chef – who knew!? Turns out, he’s probably Norwegian.