Thomas Gottschalk

Older footage shows Gottschalk touching female guests' knees, hands or shoulders and repeatedly making comments about their bodies or of a sexual nature. From 2024, he defended these gestures as 'purely professional' while saying he would not repeat them today; his remark that he now avoided sharing a lift alone with a woman and, later, prolonged contact with Cheyenne Ochsenknecht's hand reignited the controversy.

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Personally implicated

Gottschalk repeatedly took jibes at Bill and Tom Kaulitz when they were discussed and later selected to take over Wetten, dass..?, calling them Heidi Klum's 'adopted sons' and questioning their suitability. The Kaulitz brothers responded publicly, turning the programme's succession into a media feud.

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While introducing Cher at the 2025 Bambi awards, Gottschalk described her as 'the only woman' he had taken seriously in his life. The remark drew boos and a strong public reaction. He later withdrew it and apologised.

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Gottschalk recounted having slapped his sons on two family occasions. The disclosure prompted public debate over corporal punishment; he said he still regretted one of the slaps.

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Personally implicated

During his final edition of Wetten, dass..?, Gottschalk said he had not imagined Shirin David was an opera enthusiast and could not tell that she was a feminist. David replied that a feminist could be beautiful, intelligent and eloquent. The remarks prompted accusations of sexism and stereotyping.

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Personally implicated

On Die letzte Instanz, Gottschalk and three other white guests debated, among other matters, retaining the term 'Zigeunersauce', and all voted against changing it. Gottschalk also mentioned having once dressed up as Jimi Hendrix. Following strong criticism, notably from the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, WDR acknowledged serious errors in the programme's panel composition and handling.

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Directly implicated

Following a DNA test, Gottschalk joked about his Eastern European ancestry, saying it explained why he had stolen things as a child. The remark was condemned as drawing on a stereotype about Eastern Europeans.

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Personally implicated

After Gottschalk Live was cancelled early, a contractual arrangement resulted in a payment of approximately 2,7 million euros to Thomas Gottschalk even though he was no longer presenting the programme. The disclosure in 2015 prompted criticism of ARD's management of public money and the quality of the contract.

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Samuel Koch was seriously injured during a live stunt on Wetten, dass..?. The programme was interrupted, and the accident sparked extensive debate over the format's safety and responsibility. Gottschalk spoke of his moral responsibility and continued to support Koch and his family.

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Institutional responsibility

In November 1992, three days after the racist attack in Mölln, Thomas Gottschalk interviewed Franz Schönhuber, leader of the Republikaner, on his late-night show. The stated aim was to confront him about racism and the far right, but the interview was criticised as poorly prepared and as giving Schönhuber a platform which he exploited. Gottschalk subsequently acknowledged the naivety of the exercise.

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Directly implicated