Protests over Lindemann invitation to Leipzig Opera Ball

In front of the Leipzig Opera, people demonstrated with banners, whistles and chants against Rammstein singer Till Lindemann's invitation to the Opera Ball. According to a dpa reporter, around 200 demonstrators gathered opposite the red carpet on Augustusplatz. The police gave no details of the number of participants, but described the gathering as peaceful. Fans had also mingled with the audience to see celebrities.

"We want to make the organizers aware that next time they should think more about the selection of guests in advance," said Irena Rudolph-Kokot from the "Leipzig nimmt Platz" action network. The alliance had called for protests together with others.

Lindemann is on the guest list for this year's Opera Ball in Leipzig along with other guests from society, politics and business. At the 30th anniversary edition, around 2,000 guests will celebrate together under the motto "Bienvenidos, Andalucía" - including violinist David Garrett, reality TV star Claudia Obert and actress Jenny Elvers. Saxony's Equal Opportunities Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) had canceled her participation in the ball at short notice.

Many celebrities and one cancellation

The Leipzig Opera Ball had made the headlines because Lindemann, a controversial figure, was invited as a VIP guest. The 62-year-old was at the center of serious allegations in 2023. Several women had made accusations against him, some of them anonymous. He had completely denied the allegations. The Berlin public prosecutor's office dropped its investigation into the rock star in August 2023 due to a lack of sufficient suspicion.

The alliance "Together against sexualized violence and abuse of power" had criticized the invitation to Lindemann and called for a demonstration. In an open letter in the run-up to the event, the alliance of associations, institutions and civil society players called on the organizers to take social and moral responsibility and warned against sending a "fatal signal" to those affected by sexualized violence. Legal harmlessness cannot provide moral relief, they said.

Opera Ball organizer Vivian Honert-Boddin said with regard to the criticism of the celebrity guest: "We do not exclude anyone." At the same time, she warned to "focus on the essentials". The Opera Ball is a charity event at which the proceeds from a raffle are donated to the "Leipzig hilft Kindern" foundation. According to Honert-Boddin, Leipzig is a cosmopolitan city and the ball is intended to demonstrate this.