Vienna Festwochen Cancels Peter Thiel Event Amid PR Criticism

The Wiener Festwochen has abruptly canceled a planned discussion event that was set to feature tech billionaire Peter Thiel. The decision comes after a tumultuous period of back-and-forth regarding Thiel's invitation, his potential participation, and the subsequent public and media scrutiny.

Initially invited, then uninvited, and then seemingly back on, the event's trajectory has been marked by considerable media staging. The final cancellation occurred shortly after a public discussion on the preceding day where organizers and Thiel's representatives had reportedly agreed the event would proceed.

Critics, including Thomas Kramar and Benjamin Stolz from the Feuilleton section of "Die Presse," suggest that the entire affair has devolved into a significant public relations stunt for Peter Thiel. They question what remains of the event beyond the extensive media attention and the controversy surrounding Thiel's potential theological viewpoints, which were expected to be a focus of his appearance.