As the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) reports, Schlager singer Howard Carpendale has demanded an apology from Oliver Welke, the host of the ZDF satirical program 'heute-show'. The background is a joke Welke made about Carpendale in a recent episode of the show.
Carpendale expressed outrage over the remark in an interview with the 'Bild' newspaper. 'Say, are you crazy?' the 78-year-old is quoted as saying. He cannot understand how one can speak so disrespectfully about a person. The singer called on Welke to apologize.
Welke had aired a segment on the 'heute-show' about the phenomenon of the 'Carpendale effect', which caused a stir in the Schlager industry. The host referred to Carpendale as an 'old man' and made fun of his outfit. Carpendale, who has been one of the most successful German-language Schlager singers for decades, felt degraded by this.
According to the news portal ntv, Welke has since responded to the criticism. In a statement, the host explained that the 'heute-show', as a satirical program, fundamentally has the right to make jokes about public figures. He regrets if Carpendale feels hurt, but Welke refused an apology. 'We do satire, and that includes occasionally crossing the line,' Welke said according to ntv.
The 'Spiegel' reports that Carpendale finds Welke's reaction insufficient. The singer has announced that he will consider legal action. 'Something like that cannot simply be left as is,' Carpendale is quoted. He wants to set an example against the growing disrespect in society.
The 'Münchner Merkur' reports on the incident under the headline 'After disrespectful insult: Schlager legend goes after ZDF host – 'Say, are you crazy?'' The paper emphasizes that Carpendale is not normally known for public disputes. His clear reaction is all the more surprising.
The dispute between Carpendale and Welke has sparked a lively debate on social media. While some users defend Carpendale and address the limits of satire, others defend Welke and the 'heute-show' by citing artistic freedom.
Media law experts view the case with nuance. In principle, satire enjoys high protection, as long as it does not interfere with privacy or become insulting. Whether Oliver Welke's joke crossed this line must be examined on a case-by-case basis.
Howard Carpendale, known for hits like 'Ti amo' and 'Hello again', has been on stage for more than 50 years. He is considered one of the most enduring artists in German-language Schlager. Oliver Welke has hosted the 'heute-show' since 2009 and has received several awards for his satirical work.
Whether an agreement will be reached between the two remains to be seen.
