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Moderator Klum in "GNTM": "Show exactly what is happening"
Photo: Richard Huebner / ProSieben
Heidi Klum used the TV start of the new season of "Germany's Next Top Model" (GNTM) for a long speech in defense of her model casting show.
"After I had to listen to so many things, especially last year, I would like to take a stand now, dear viewers," said the 49-year-old at the beginning of the new season on Thursday evening.
In addition, headlines from critical media reports were displayed.
The show has been criticized for years – for example because of the ideals of beauty that were represented there.
For several years now, the show, which is now in its 18th season, has made »diversity« its main priority.
"I come from a time when the industry worked very differently," said Klum.
Anyone who didn't fit in a size 34 could go home - that's what she often did herself.
In addition, interview excerpts from her early days as a model were shown, in which she talks about being simply too curvy for many jobs.
"We don't saw on shoes here"
Former candidates Heidi Klum and ProSieben repeatedly accuse them of manipulating and misrepresenting them on the show.
In the spring, a video went viral in which an ex-candidate claimed that “GNTM” was being tricked and staged.
DER SPIEGEL was able to see contracts for a previous season, which stated that the production company made "substantive suggestions if necessary" to the cast.
The contracts also say that there may be recordings that "present the woman in a way she doesn't like herself," for example.
And a few sentences later: "The participant is aware of any burdens that may result for her from this."
Klum denied allegations that the show was not real: "We are a reality show and show exactly what happens." Everything the models said was solely their decision.
Regarding an ex-candidate's accusation that there had been attempts to manipulate a catwalk challenge, Klum made the bizarre admission: "We don't saw any shoes here." The models are to blame if they behave unfavorably in front of the camera, the designers are to blame if they provide clothes in which one is bound to stumble.
Klum's ten-minute defense speech could only be seen on the first TV broadcast at 8:15 p.m. – not in the stream and not when the show was repeated that night.
“Some things don't repeat themselves in life.
And for others, 8:15 p.m. on ProSieben is the best time,” said broadcaster spokesman Christoph Körfer.
Fewer viewers than in previous years
An average of 1.73 million viewers watched the start of the 18th season on Thursday evening.
In the total audience, this corresponded to a market share of 7.3 percent from 8:15 p.m.
A year ago, around 300,000 more watched the start, two years ago even around 600,000.
ProSieben was nevertheless satisfied, since the market share in the target group of young viewers - 14 to 49 years old - which is considered important - was "a wonderful 19.9 percent", said the private broadcaster in Unterföhring near Munich.
The so-called net reach from three years was 4.94 million viewers.
This means the number of people who tuned in briefly at least once.
feb/arü/dpa