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Joost Vergoossen (right) and the Höhner while recording the ZDF carnival program »Kölle Alaaf« in 2020.
Photo: Jens Krick / Future Image / imago images
The Cologne band Höhner ("Viva Colonia") has split up with guitarist Joost Vergoossen.
In a video statement on their Facebook page, the music group explained the background: "His stance on the worldwide, Covid-19-related pandemic, which he has published on several social media platforms, does not correspond to the convictions of the band."
Discussions between the group and their guitarist were therefore "inconclusive".
Finally, Vergoossen then publicly confessed to a Dutch right-wing populist, which is why the decision was made to "go separate ways in the future."
On Saturday, Vergoossen's unverified Facebook page read a dissolute statement.
Among other things, he writes that he was denied the opportunity to defend his point of view appropriately.
He regrets that "this adventure ended this way."
It was always "pretty cool" to "feel like a young man from Cologne as a Dutchman."
In addition, he refers in the statement to the reading of the book "12 Rules for Life" by the controversial psychologist Jordan B. Peterson.
Vergoossen added a video statement on Sunday.
Accordingly, he never "supported right-wing extremist ideas" or "denied the virus".
In addition, he was not given the opportunity to clarify the allegations.
On his Facebook page you can still find Covid-19-related posts that were classified as "misinformation" by the social network, as well as links to conspiracy videos, for example about an alleged "Great Reset".
sem / dpa