Harald Schmidt

A photograph of Schmidt at Weltwoche's summer party alongside Hans-Georg Maaßen and Matthias Matussek prompted questions and criticism about his political position. Schmidt said he had anticipated the controversy and did not care, explaining that he mixed with various circles to inform his writing.

State of the evidence

Documented

On his programme, Schmidt showed a photomontage of the Federal Employment Agency with a gate bearing the phrase 'Wachstum schafft Arbeit', which the Central Council of Jews considered reminiscent of the 'Arbeit macht frei' inscription at Auschwitz. Its secretary-general described the joke as degrading, tasteless and insulting and demanded an apology.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Schmidt sought an injunction and approximately 50 000 euros from the author of a very small-circulation satirical magazine which, among other things, alleged an affair between him and Verona Pooth and used his photograph. Although the court acknowledged that he did not have to accept being associated with such content, his claim failed because the opposing party was found legally incapable of bearing liability.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Protagonist is the complainant

On Schmidt & Pocher, the 'Nazometer' segment purported to measure the closeness of certain words or statements to Nazism and included jokes about gas chambers and showers. The device drew strong criticism, and ARD officials called for it to be dropped.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following a joke relating to Literarisches Quartett and the death of one of its participants, Marcel Reich-Ranicki strongly attacked Harald Schmidt, describing him as inhuman and making a comparison involving a black uniform. The episode became a notable public conflict between the literary critic and the presenter.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

The Harald Schmidt Show mocked Susan Stahnke's Hollywood ambitions by using a lookalike actress in a fake sexual scene from Basic Instinct II. Following a formal notice, the Hamburg Regional Court ruled on 13 August 1999 in case 324 O 106/99, and rebroadcast of the disputed portrayal was prohibited.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

During the 1998 World Cup, the Harald Schmidt Show broadcast a fake diary of Lothar Matthäus and insults targeting players, including Jürgen Klinsmann. The DFB brought legal proceedings and obtained an injunction prohibiting, among other things, repetition of certain descriptions.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Schmidt compared Bettina Böttinger to a feminist magazine, a toilet seat and a bottle of liqueur, claiming that no man would voluntarily touch any of them, an attack also implicitly targeting her homosexuality. Böttinger appeared on the programme to denounce the humiliation before leaving the set.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Harald Schmidt made 'Polenwitze' a recurring feature of his show, often based on the stereotype of Polish people as thieves. Journalists and cultural figures protested; following an exchange with Polish ambassador Andrzej Byrt and criticism in the press, Schmidt abandoned the 'daily Polenwitz'.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated