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Martin Sonneborn in the European Parliament (archive image)
Photo: Patrick Seeger / dpa
Satirist and EU politician Martin Sonneborn reacted insightfully to cabaret artist Nico Semsrott's resignation from the joint party »Die Party«.
Shortly before, Semsrott had criticized Sonneborn's "ignorant handling of feedback" and thus justified his departure from the party.
The criticism is triggered by a failed joke by Sonneborn.
The party leader had distributed a photo of himself after the storm on the US Capitol.
On this he wore a T-shirt that read: »AU WIEDELSEHERN, AMLERIKA!
but you runtel Good FrLug!
Printed in China for Die PALTEI «- a failed swipe at US President Donald Trump.
Sonneborn wrote on Facebook: "I'm sorry that people have been hurt by reproducing these stereotypes."
The aim of his action was "to caricature the increasingly irrelevant global political arrogance of the USA," wrote Sonneborn.
This includes the economic confrontation with China.
"And above all: the repeated sinophobic attacks and polemics of their president".
He made use of linguistic stereotypes "and adopted a cheap cliché," wrote Sonneborn.
However, he underestimated the effect.
"I was so convinced that the thrust of the imprint was clear that I wasn't aware that someone could feel racially discriminated against by it," says Sonneborn: But if a joke leads to racial injury instead of stimulating reflection, or at least one to have a liberating laugh, then it's a failed joke. "
Party colleague Semsrott had criticized Sonneborn's reaction to the criticism of the T-shirt.
“If people feel racially attacked by his postings, he doesn't have to do much.
Compassion and respect for those affected are enough to correct your own behavior, ”said Semsrott.
Sonneborn had initially criticized critics for not understanding his art.
However, he deleted the post.
In 2011, Sonneborn received negative international attention when he imitated then US President Barack Obama by blackfacing on an election poster.
"The Party" was founded in 2004 by employees of the satirical magazine "Titanic";
Sonneborn was editor-in-chief at the time.
She secured two seats in the EU Parliament in the 2019 European elections with 2.4 percent of the vote in Germany.
Sonneborn has been in the European Parliament since 2014.
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ptz / AFP
