2024-03-16 21:10:59
Pop star Michael Wendler appears in Germany again. After three years and numerous attempts. How did he manage to do that?
He fought for it for a long time, and the time has come in September 2025: Michael Wendler will give a concert in Germany. It is the pop singer’s first public appearance in three years. The Rudolf Weber Arena in Oberhausen gives him a stage.
The pop star writes on Facebook and X: “The sensation is perfect.” What’s particularly sensational about it is that Michael Wendler found an organizer who would let him perform. He has been trying to make a comeback for months and has repeatedly announced new songs, performances and tours. But to this day he has not set foot on a stage.
Since Michael Wendler drew attention to himself with conspiracy theories and agitation three years ago, many people in this country have turned away from him. He seems unwelcome in many places in Germany and he feels it too. For his performances this year he had to switch to stages in neighboring countries. In Switzerland, organizer Daniel Stricker opens his doors for him. Like Michael Wendler, he was noticed as a Corona critic.
Michael Wendler speaks of censorship and incitement
But apparently Michael Wendler’s persistence has now paid off. After a number of setbacks, he has now found a venue in Germany. Unlike a year ago, there has been no criticism and public outrage so far. Last summer, for example, a festival in Greece where he planned to perform was canceled after there were massive protests against his appearance.
Michael Wendler himself addresses the previous protests against him on social networks, how they tried to prevent “the return of the king”. He writes about censorship and hate speech. “But Michael Wendler, who has campaigned for freedom of expression and fundamental rights like no other pop singer in recent years, will not let himself be defeated,” he said. And then he adds a sentence that he used in previous posts: “Nothing can stop what’s coming.”
“We expressly distance ourselves”
When asked by t-online, the organizers explained why they signed a contract with Michael Wendler as follows: “The program at the Rudolf Weber Arena Oberhausen offers a wide range of different artists, shows and performances. We are a venue that promotes art and culture possible in different variants.”
The organizers are apparently aware of Michael Wendler’s previous gaffes and the criticism of the planned appearance can be understood, they say. He is still given a stage – the explanation for this is: “We expressly distance ourselves from the statements made and would like to emphasize that we do not make our stage available to artists for the expression of political views, but only for the presentation of their art. “
How does Michael Wendler feel about his statements today?
When RTLzwei planned a documentary about Wendler’s private life last year, he also stated that he would “distance himself from some statements.” However, he did not specify this. Many people criticized that. And when you looked at his
Michael Wendler apparently assumed that his conspiracy theories and his career were compatible. But a large part of Germany doesn’t want to see a Corona denier on stage. This has been shown by loud criticism in the past. In the end, the protest against the documentation was so great that RTLzwei said goodbye to the project.
It’s quite possible that this is one of the reasons why Michael Wendler now only concentrates on his music on social media. He has been really promoting things there since November 2023. One song announcement follows the next; he has just finished another album, he tells t-online.