Sat.1 removes comedian Luke Mockridge’s show from its program

After malicious remarks about para-athletes, the broadcaster Sat.1 has removed a show by comedian Luke Mockridge from its schedule. Sat.1 has decided Not to launch his new show “What’s in the Box?” on September 12thsaid a spokesman. The “Süddeutsche Zeitung” and “Bild” had previously reported.

“The statements about disabled people and para-athletes, which many people are rightly outraged aboutdo not fit with our values,” the spokesman said. Mockridge quickly realized what he had done wrong with these sentences. He therefore publicly and credibly apologized.

The spokesman continued: “We hope that Luke Mockridge will find a way to follow up his apology with actions and to continue to work through 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.”

In a podcast, the 35-year-old had athletes from the Games in Paris, which end this Sunday. “There are people without legs and arms who are thrown into a pool – and whoever drowns last wins,” Mockridge said in the podcast “Die Deutschen” among other things. The talk was published in mid-August.

Mockridge apologized

After much criticism of his statements, he backtracked and apologized to the athletes. “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 celebrated.” That I did not manage to convey that properly and that I hurt people, I'm really sorry“, he wrote: “It also pisses me off that at the end of these Paralympics the media is talking more about me and not about the tournament.”

Sharp criticism from silver medalist Niko Kappel

The outrage is great: After a training accident in a wheelchair sitting two-time track cycling Olympic champion Kristina Vogel commented on the statements on social media and described them as “unbelievable”. Shot put world champion and Paris silver medalist Niko Kappel explained in response to a dpa query: “Luke Mockridge and his two fellow competitors are unlucky that contempt for humanity, ignorance and bad taste are not Paralympic.” Otherwise they would have been able to experience these great games as athletes and would have been hot candidates for gold.”

Before the apology, the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) responded to the mockery with an invitation for Mockridge. “We would like to encourage people to watch para-sports live in order to experience the impressive achievements that people with disabilities are capable of – and to understand what an enrichment they are for our society.” The comedian explained that he was “very happy” to accept the invitation. He was looking forward to the change of perspective and to actively learning.

The President of the Berlin Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association had, before Mockridge’s statement, demanded an apology and spoke of an “unprecedented slip-up.” This cannot be dismissed as comedy or mere stupidity,” Özcan Mutlu told the German Press Agency: “Such derogatory statements are absolutely unacceptable and deserve strong condemnation.” Mockridge should be deeply ashamed.

Already in the In the past, Mockridge had come into focus. Among other things, he caused trouble with an irritating appearance on the “ZDF-Fernsehgarten”. “However, the jokes that Luke Mockridge told today were neither our sense of humour nor that of the audience.” “Unfortunately, there is nothing more to say, the appearance speaks for itself,” ZDF said at the time.

The comedian Mockridge was once one of the faces of Sat.1. In August 2021, he announced a break and has hardly appeared on television since then. From mid-September, Mockridge will host the Sat.1 show “What's in the Box?” The Comedy Quiz”. (dpa)