ARD Celebrates 75 Years with a Jubilee Show, Inviting ‘Prominent Guests’
The ARD, a German public television broadcaster, celebrated its 75th anniversary with a jubilee show, inviting prominent guests, including comedian Dieter Hallervorden, known for his classic sketch “Nonstop Nonsens”. However, the show left a bitter aftertaste for some viewers.
Hallervorden, a humorist from the old days, performed a sketch that was meant to be a nostalgic trip back in time, but it ended up being a controversy. The comedian, known for his classic “Palim, Palim” gag, decided to update the sketch with some new lines, criticizing the restrictions on free speech and the “woke” guidelines of younger producers and media professionals.
The show sparked a heated debate, with some critics accusing Hallervorden of using racist language and others defending his right to satire. The show’s moderator, Pflaume, was not in the frame when Hallervorden made the comments and the show’s producers could have easily edited out the controversial part, but chose not to.
Dieter Hallervorden responded to the criticism on his Instagram account, saying that satire is not understood anymore and that he will not be censored. He also criticized the “woke” people who are more concerned with not being misunderstood than with actual satire.
The controversy has sparked a wider debate about the limits of free speech, the role of satire and the changing values of society.