Schumacher scandal: fake interview has drastic consequences

Formula 1

The magazine “Die Aktuell” caused a stir this week with a fake interview. In one issue, the magazine published a fictitious interview with former racing pro Michael Schumacher. It was not immediately apparent that it was a fake. The behavior has met with severe criticism in the media world.

The media company behind “Die Aktuell” has now drawn its conclusions – with personal consequences.

Interview scandal has sensitive consequences

The fictitious interview therefore has sensitive consequences for a – now former – member of the editorial team. The Funke media group parted ways with the editor-in-chief of the magazines. Editor-in-chief Anne Hoffmann is parting ways “with immediate effect”. Since 2009, Hoffmann has had journalistic responsibility for “Die Aktuell”.

Funke also addressed the Schumacher family and apologized in a message on Friday evening. “This tasteless and misleading article should never have appeared. It in no way meets the standards of journalism that we – and our readers – expect from a publisher like Funke,” emphasized Funke Magazine Managing Director Bianca Pohlmann.

Michael Schumacher’s family wants to take legal action

“Michael Schumacher: The first interview!”: That was the headline on the cover, along with a photo of Michael Schumacher. Below it was the smaller subline “It sounds deceptively real”. Only inside the magazine was there a note that the interview came from a website “that has to do with artificial intelligence, or AI for short.”

Since Michael Schumacher’s skiing accident around nine years ago, his family has placed great value on his privacy and kept him out of the public eye. Nothing is known about his current state of health. This is how his family now reacts to the fake interview. On request, they have now confirmed to the German Press Agency that they want to take legal action.

(With material from dpa)