Dieter Bohlen, the chief juror of the German talent show, Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS), is no stranger to controversy. The 69-year-old has made headlines before for his derogatory comments towards contestants and feuds with fellow judges. However, his latest altercation with a DSDS candidate, Raffaela Raab, has kicked up a notch.
During Raab’s audition, the vegan candidate clashed with the jury, including Bohlen, over their dietary choices. When Pietro Lombardi revealed he had eaten schnitzel earlier that day, Raab asked if he would be willing to “kill the animals yourself if they had been here?” A question that left Lombardi speechless.
The jury unanimously dismissed Raab, but her provocations did not end there. She took to social media to continue the debate and called out Bohlen, who was more than happy to respond. In a video message, Bohlen emphasized that everyone should eat what they like, to which Raab responded with a provocative offer to treat Bohlen the way he wanted the animals to be treated.
Bohlen’s response was not exactly conciliatory. Sitting with his dog on his lap, he invited Raab to come to his house, where he would “pet her a bit,” insinuating that she might be less “aggro” if she received some physical attention.
Bohlen’s insensitive remarks sparked outrage on social media, and fans and animal rights activists lashed out against him, calling for his removal from the show. Some even started a petition, which gained over 20,000 signatures in a matter of days.
As for Bohlen’s message to “love life, be positive,” his critics argue that it was hypocritical, given his behavior towards Raab. Many have called for him to apologize, but so far, none has been forthcoming.
The incident serves as a reminder that words matter. Those in positions of power and influence, such as Bohlen, have a responsibility to be mindful of what they say and how they behave. With the growing awareness of animal rights and the impact of our dietary choices on the environment, it behooves public figures to promote compassion and understanding, not ridicule and division.
