After jokes about disabled people: Sat.1 cancels new show by Luke Mockridge

After jokes about disabled people
Sat.1 cancels Luke Mockridge’s new show

08.09.2024, 14:33

After questionable jokes about disabled athletes, the broadcaster Sat.1 has decided not to broadcast the new show by comedian Luke Mockridge. The decision was made not to launch the new show 'What's in the Box?' on September 12th, a broadcaster spokesperson told several media outlets.

The bone of contention is an excerpt from the podcast “Die Deutschen” by Nizar and Shayan, in which Mockridge was a guest. In the episode, which was released in mid-August, the trio talks about the Paralympic Games, among other things. Among other things, Mockridge says during the conversation: “There are people without legs and without arms, you throw them into the pool – and whoever drowns last wins.”

After much criticism, the 35-year-old apologized for his comments on Saturday. “Of course, it was never my intention to ridicule people with disabilities – especially during these great Paralympic Games,” Mockridge wrote on Instagram. “From my own experience working with disabled people, I have always experienced a sharp, black humor that I have celebrated. I am truly sorry that I failed to convey that properly and that I have hurt people.”

A Sat.1 spokesperson told the “Bild” newspaper: “The statements about disabled people and para-athletes, which many people are rightly outraged about, do not fit with our values. Luke Mockridge quickly realised that he had done everything wrong with these sentences. He added: “We hope that Luke Mockridge will find a way to follow up his apology with actions and to continue to work on the issue in the interests of all people with disabilities and in the interests of all para-athletes who impressed and enchanted us with their achievements in Paris.”