The small war over the research stories of the Hamburg news magazine “Spiegel” about alleged sexual harassment of female Rammstein fans in connection with knockout drops, alcohol and drugs is entering the next round.
Various specialist media and also the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” report on the court judgment of “inadmissible suspicion reporting”, since the sworn statements of allegedly affected women are not enough for the judges.
After this verdict, “Der Spiegel” may no longer use the collected quotes and statements in connection with the sexual assaults alleged by various women: Another partial success of the Lindemann camp before the traditional media-strict Hamburg district court.
The Ericusspitze has already announced that it will appeal the verdict. A spokesman for Der Spiegel told the online portal Meedia about this:
“The suspicion in the cover story referred to the recruitment system, which is now undisputed, with which Mr. Lindemann was systematically fed young women for sex, some of whom today express doubts about the consensual relationship,” according to the “Spiegel” camp. “Only marginally was the mere assumption of some women reported that they had been “spiked” by someone (not: specifically by Mr. Lindemann) at Rammstein concerts or parties. These are legally permissible expressions of opinion.”
Overall, however, the news magazine also sees itself legally in the green. The final assessment states:
“The vast majority of our various reports about Mr. Lindemann and the band Rammstein were not even objected to or were considered permissible by the Hamburg Regional Court.”
One wonders when Till Lindemann or the band Rammstein will finally comment live and directly on all the allegations. If it’s all made up, why not rush forward?
Now that the fat millions of dollars in revenue from the last tour have been brought in – and after all the accusations and the counter-skirmishes of their lawyers, there is hardly anything to fear from criminal law. In their band image, Rammstein are always only too happy to play big (see also the in-house t-shirt merch with the line “Some lead, some follow”), in real life they hide behind a phalanx of expensive star Defend or spread cryptic Mimimi messages via social media.
Rammstein act like slick manager types with silk ties who fear for their well-endowed board positions. Not a trace of “courage”, resilience or “new German hardness” far and wide. Machos on diving station.