ZDF satire show "Die Anstalt" criticizes the disinvitation of Danger Dan as "cowardly"

Background: What are ZDF and "Die Anstalt" arguing about?

During the show, members of the ensemble took turns at the lonely microphone and performed passages from the song "Keine Angst." The audience responded with "great applause in the studio." The anniversary episode addressed the dispute in detail.

The background to the conflict is the lyrics of "Keine Angst." Among other things, the song is about researching and publishing the names of far-right perpetrators. The final lines of the song name four first names that are identical to the first names of well-known, in some cases already convicted, left-wing extremists. The "Anstalt" team has stated that it discussed precisely these closing lines intensively.

ZDF justified its decision in a segment on the magazine show "Aspekte" on Saturday evening. A spokesperson for the broadcaster stated, „Der Text des Liedes als Anleitung zum politischen Extremismus verstanden werden könne, der Selbstjustiz propagiere und rechtswidrige Taten und Gewalt nicht ausschließe". The appearance was subsequently cancelled.

The ZDF's position

Representing the broadcaster on "Aspekte" was Oliver Heidemann, who heads ZDF's main editorial department for entertainment. Heidemann said that "the decision had not been an easy one" and regretted "that it had taken a long time. He understood that point."

The discussion program featured numerous experts as guests, including legal scholars, journalists, cabaret artists, and publicists, who assessed the issue in different ways. "Die Anstalt" member Maike Kühl said: „Die Debatte sei wichtig und das Team hätte sich sehr gewünscht, dass Danger Dan hätte auftreten dürfen, so dass man im Anschluss mit ihm hätte diskutieren können".

Reactions from the team

Max Uthoff posed a fundamental question on the show: „Die Frage sei aber, was passiere, wenn der Staat sein Gewaltmonopol nicht durchsetze und Menschen ungeschützt seien vor Nazis". At the same time, he pointed out that it „Das könne strafbar sein" if the names of far-right extremists were researched and published. „Man verurteile Gewalt", Uthoff made clear.

Danger Dan, known by his civilian name as a musician from the left-wing rap scene, last performed at the Lido Sounds festival in 2023 in Linz, „Der Musiker Danger Dan am Freitag, 16. Juni 2023, im Rahmen des Musikfestivals Lido Sounds 2023 in Linz". The planned joint appearance with Igor Levit on "Die Anstalt" would have been one of his biggest television appearances to date on public broadcasting.

Outlook on the debate

The dispute throws a spotlight on the balancing act between artistic freedom, programming responsibility, and political debate in public-service broadcasting. While the "Anstalt" team classifies the decision as "cowardly," ZDF points to potential legal and programmatic risks associated with the song lyrics. A definitive resolution of the conflict was not initially in sight.