Danger Dan and Igor Levit: 'Die Anstalt' moderators call ZDF decision 'cowardly'

The hosts of the German satirical television program "Die Anstalt" have strongly criticized ZDF's decision to disinvite rapper Danger Dan from their anniversary broadcast. Claus von Wagner, one of the show's moderators, described the ZDF's decision as "cowardly," particularly in a time when right-wing extremist violence has reached a new peak in Germany's history.

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We understand that one can have differing opinions about the song, but we find the ZDF's decision in a time when right-wing extremist violence has once again reached a peak in the history of the Federal Republic to be simply cowardly.

During the anniversary episode, the "Die Anstalt" team, including von Wagner, Max Uthoff, and Maike Kühl, read passages from Danger Dan's song "Keine Angst" (No Fear) and offered commentary. Uthoff noted that researching and publishing the names of right-wing extremists, as mentioned in the song, could be legally punishable. The moderators engaged in extensive discussion regarding the song's final lines, where Danger Dan names four individuals whose first names are identical to those of well-known, and in some cases convicted, left-wing extremists.

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The question is, what happens when the state does not enforce its monopoly on violence and people are unprotected against Nazis.

Uthoff posed the question of what happens when the state fails to uphold its monopoly on violence, leaving people unprotected against Nazis. Kühl expressed the team's strong desire for Danger Dan to have been allowed to perform, enabling a subsequent discussion with him.

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I am not calling on anyone to go into the criminal underworld.

ZDF had initially planned for Danger Dan to perform the song with renowned pianist Igor Levit during the 100th episode of the satirical show on Saturday evening. However, ZDF's management intervened shortly before the broadcast, prohibiting the performance. The broadcaster justified its decision by stating that the song's lyrics could be interpreted as an incitement to violence. Danger Dan has refuted this accusation, telling Der Spiegel, "I am not calling on anyone to go into the criminal underworld." He explained that the song was written as an "answer to the question: How do you build effective anti-fascist structures?" and aimed to show people they are not entirely powerless against the resurgence of right-wing extremism.

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The song was written to show people that they are not completely powerless in the face of strengthening right-wing extremism.