After announcing a new reality show featuring controversial singer Michael Wendler, RTLzwei has been forced to backtrack as a result of widespread criticism and counter-reactions. The show, which was centered around the singer and his pregnant wife, promised to provide viewers with “intimate insights into the life of Michael and his Laura.” The expected birth of their child would have been the highlight of the show. However, within a day of making the announcement, RTLzwei canceled the show, apologizing to viewers and explaining that they had listened to the “vehemence of the reactions.”
The backlash against RTLzwei and the show was immediate and broad. Carmen Geiss, who is well-known for her participation in RTLzwei’s “The Geissens – A Terribly Glamorous Family,” expressed her shock and disapproval on Instagram. In her post, she wrote that “conspiracy ideological statements are not our style,” and even hinted that “theGeissens [might] stop at RTL 2!”
Wendler, who has been involved in various reality show productions, has become increasingly scandalous since 2020, when he publicly criticized the German government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. His most recent controversy arose as a result of his sharing of false claims and conspiracy theories on the Telegram platform, including QAnon and anti-vaccine content. He has also referred to the coronavirus vaccination as a “poison injection.”
In light of the criticism against him and the new show, Wendler attempted to assuage public opinion, publishing a statement on his wife’s Instagram channel, in which he expressed surprise at the “vehemence” of the response. He also denied being a racist or anti-Semite, while expressing regret for some of his previous statements. However, RTLzwei remained unmoved, explaining in their statement that they had always distanced themselves from extremism of any kind and stood for open-mindedness and tolerance.
In the end, the backlash against RTLzwei and Michael Wendler proved too strong, leading to the cancellation of the planned show. RTLzwei’s decision signaled their commitment to standing against hatred and intolerance in all forms, a message that will undoubtedly resonate with their audience. For Michael Wendler, the saga underscores the challenges that can arise when celebrities seek to use their platform for actions or statements that go against the values of a tolerant and open society.
