Böhmermann Vows to Remove Anti-Semitic Performers from Berlin Exhibition
BERLIN – Comedian Jan Böhmermann has pledged to immediately remove any artist exhibiting anti-semitic views from his upcoming “The Possibility of Unreasonableness” series at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) in Berlin. The commitment comes after German Minister of State for Culture and Media Claudia Roth raised concerns about the scheduled October 7th performance by rapper Chefket, alleging the artist has spread anti-semitic content.
The series, running from September 27 to October 19, features concerts, shows, TV recordings, and discussions curated by Böhmermann and his ”ZDF Magazin Royale” team.Roth, as a member of the HKW’s supervisory board, urged HKW director Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung to ensure no anti-Semitic statements are made during the event.
Ndikung responded in a letter to Roth affirming the HKW’s zero-tolerance policy towards anti-Semitism and highlighting Böhmermann’s publicly known stance against it, stating the artist has artistic freedom in curation. Though, Böhmermann himself has now taken a firm position.
“Than I box that off the stage,” Böhmermann reportedly said, indicating a willingness to personally intervene and remove any performer displaying anti-Semitic behavior.
Roth stated her tolerance ends where anti-Semitism begins, and emphasized the organizers should prevent the HKW from being ”misused for anti-semitic actions.” Ndikung assured Roth that any anti-Semitic statement or gesture on the HKW stage would be “clearly rejected,” and shared her concern regarding rising anti-Semitism and racist violence in Germany.
Minister Roth is scheduled to participate in a conversation at the HKW on October 8th.
