Recommendations of the Editorial team
With his lawsuit against Jan Böhmermann in August 2025, Manuel Ostermann made headlines across the country. The deputy chairman of the DPolG Federal Police Union accuses the ZDF presenter of having defamed and politically discredited him in an issue of “ZDF Magazin Royale”. While lawyers argue about the limits of satire and personal rights, a current appearance by the police unionist is attracting additional attention – this time in the music scene.
On stage with Frei.Wild
A few days after the lawsuit became known, Ostermann was on stage at the concert of the controversial German rock band Frei.Wild in Dortmund. In a post on the short message platform X, he thanked the band, crew and audience in an emotional manner. The evening will “forever have a special place” in his heart, wrote Ostermann. He particularly emphasized the “support” and “appreciation towards our blue light family”.
The appearance is likely to further fuel the debate about Ostermann’s public role. Frei.Wild has been polarizing for years: The band from South Tyrol regularly rejects accusations of right-wing or nationalist tendencies, but is repeatedly criticized for its patriotic symbolism and its ability to connect with conservative to right-wing milieus. Old photos of singer Philipp Burger showing him making a Hitler salute are circulating online.
Pop culture as a political symbolic space
At least the conservative context makes Ostermann’s production appear political on stage. Critics point out that trade unionists not only express themselves as civil servants, but are increasingly becoming part of cultural and political symbolic spaces themselves. Anyone who aggressively seeks publicity and consciously participates in social debates must also face severe criticism.
The appearance in Dortmund adds an additional level to the discussion with Böhmermann: it is no longer just about satire and media law, but also about the question of how pop culture, political attitudes and public self-presentation are intertwined today.
