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A scene from the federal government commercial. screenshot: federal government video
The German government makes Corona commercial, and it’s wildly offensive on the internet
In reality, they only wanted the citizens of Germany to limit contacts during the crown pandemic. The result is controversy, especially on Twitter.
An old man begins with a story: “I think it was winter 2020 when the whole country looked at us.” The story is accompanied by dramatic music, sometimes heroic. Anton Lehmann is the name of the man who, according to the 2020 subline, was on duty in Chemnitz, Saxony. Lehmann continues:
“I had just turned 22 and was studying mechanical engineering in Chemnitz when the second wave came. 22. At this age you want to celebrate. Study, meet someone or have a drink with friends. But fate had other plans for us. An invisible danger threatened everything we believed in. “And then he dramatically says:
Of course, Lehmann is not talking about a war, as you might expect based on the appearance, but, obviously: the crown pandemic. He describes his “mission” as follows:
“So we all cheered up and did what was expected of us. The only correct thing. We did not do anything. Absolutely nothing. They were lazy like raccoons. For days and nights we sat at home fighting the spread of the coronavirus. Our sofa was the front and our patience was our weapon. “
Lehmanns Billanz: “You know, sometimes I almost have to smile a little when I think back to that time. That was our destiny, this is how we became heroes. Back then in our Corona winter 2020. “And in the background the pizza delivery man greets.
The video does not come from a satirical program as the joke suggests, but from the German government. The end of the video is followed by the government’s call: “Become a hero too and stay home.” Government spokesman Steffen Seibert posted it on Twitter on Saturday.
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It went viral by German standards: in one day, more than a million people watched the video. The video with English subtitles was even among the most popular posts on entertainment sites like “9Gag”. Seibert then followed up on Sunday and shared a second video with the fictitious Lehmann and his wife, which, however, received less attention.
Barely divided, the debate begins
Can it happen when a government publishes a humorous video? Far from the world of scandalous Twitter users, it is. But it sparked a storm of outrage on Twitter, from all sides.
From the left, for example, it was criticized that the video is especially addressed to young people from well-to-do families. It does not mention: People who have to work despite the pandemic and put themselves in danger, like the pizza delivery man who makes it possible for the fictional Lehmann to stay at home. People in the health sector should describe themselves as heroes.
On the right, here, for example, the politics of AfD Beatrix von Storch, the video was perceived as propaganda or, worse, as an attack on society.
Others, like Cologne communication expert Christine Richter, told the WDR that it was torn from side to side. The vocabulary of war is particularly troublesome for them. She said: “From an ethical point of view, I find it very difficult to draw this parallel in words and pictures to the events of World War II. That is what many will find very difficult and that is why we have such a strong polarization on social media. “
German journalist Boris Reitschuster even found: “With a billboard, the government is actually using taxpayer money to poke fun at the victims of crown measures, portraying the crisis as funny and those who recline on the couch. as #special heroes. Separated from the reality of the citizens! “
When does it get ridiculous?
What was lost in all the reviews: Most of the commercial was well or very well received. CDU politician Ruprecht Polenz criticized the Twitter discussion about #special heroes.
Model and influencer Marie von den Benken found words even clearer:
And what does the German government think? A spokesman for the Federal Press Office said the videos were part of the corona pandemic information policy. “His message is clear: reducing contacts is currently our most important and most effective means of containing the pandemic.” The goal of the video was to reach as many young people as possible.
Der Spiegel wrote in a comment, while still debating whether it was appropriate or not: “The goal has actually already been achieved, and all of us, including this comment, have contributed to it. Because so far there has been little criticism of the basic message: stay home! “
