Boateng, documentary on violence: women’s testimonies cut

More controversy surrounding Jerome Boateng. A three-part documentary produced by Bayerischer Rundfunk (Bavaria’s public broadcaster) entitled “Being Jerome Boateng” is described as a work that tells “the story of a world champion torn between triumph and ruin. From his home pitch to the title of 2014 world champion, from a celebrated symbol of integration to a man convicted of intentional bodily harm against his ex-partner.” Yet, according to an investigation carried out by Der Spiegel, some women who appeared in the documentary claim that their critical thinking towards Boateng was censored.

the story

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In the docufilm Boateng also talks about the suicide of Kasia Lenhardt, an ex of his who took her own life in 2021. The footballer, in those days, gave an interview to Bild in which he spoke badly of the girl who took the extreme action in the same week as the publication of the article concerning her. Bild’s editor-in-chief stated that, in hindsight, he would not have published the interview. Now that Boateng tells his story in first person, even a private one, the media trial has been unleashed on social media. “As a victim of domestic violence, I am very disappointed in you,” writes one user. Or again: “Give visibility to a condemned man”.

the background

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Boateng recently found himself on trial because his ex-wife accused him of domestic violence. Despite having ordered him to pay 100,000 euros to two children’s charities, the Munich I regional court concluded the proceedings in June 2024 with a warning. “I have never hit a woman, the accusations are unfounded – he assured -. I was warned by the court because I injured my ex-girlfriend’s eye during an argument, although I would like to underline that it was she who hurt my lip first. It was a scuffle in which we injured each other during the argument”.

the criticisms

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The declared objective of the documentary was to show Jerome in his ambivalence, so much so that space was given to some women (Gabriela Keller, Gizem Çelik and Daniel Müksch) who knew Boateng and who used the opportunity to make various accusations against him. However, the annoyance of the interviewees emerges as they accuse the production of having cut some significant parts of their testimonies. Lawyer Alexander Stevens, who appears in the documentary, also pointed the finger at the production on Instagram: “It is estimated that 95% of my interview was simply cut. What remains are three short statements completely taken out of context and which, in some cases, have been inserted into new contexts.” For now, the Bayerischer Rundfunk are not taking a stand, but the criticism is fierce. Not just around Boateng this time.