After days of criticism over the last-minute cancellation of singer Danger Dan (43) and pianist Igor Levit (39) from the 100th episode of "Die Anstalt", ZDF has now made the conflict itself a topic. While a 16-minute special edition of "aspekte" was meant to provide journalistic context for the decision on Saturday evening, the satire show's team used its anniversary episode for a clear reckoning with the network - and simply read the controversial lyrics of "Keine Angst" themselves.

On Saturday, ZDF made both the special edition of "aspekte" and the anniversary episode of "Die Anstalt" available in its media library. The former was broadcast on television on Saturday evening, while "Die Anstalt" will air on Tuesday at 10:15 PM.

"We consider the decision cowardly"

Danger Dan and Igor Levit were supposed to perform the song "Keine Angst" live in the 100th episode of the cabaret show. However, ZDF canceled the appearance at short notice. After an intensive editorial and legal review, the network concluded that the lyrics could be understood as "instructions for political extremism", propagating vigilantism and not excluding illegal acts and violence, the network explained in advance.

In the show itself, the hosts made no secret of how they assessed the decision. "We understand that people may have differing opinions about the song, but we consider ZDF's decision simply cowardly at a time when far-right violence has once again reached a peak in the history of the Federal Republic", said Claus von Wagner to great applause from the audience.

Song lyrics instead of live performance

Instead of the planned musical performance, after a sketch only a grand piano with a microphone stood on the stage - an obvious allusion to the cancellation.

Subsequently, Claus von Wagner, Max Uthoff and Maike Kühl read passages from "Keine Angst" themselves and provided context. In doing so, they also drew attention to problematic sections. For example, Uthoff explained regarding a passage about researching and publishing the names of far-right extremists that such action could be punishable.

The controversial final lines of the song were also addressed. There, Danger Dan mentions four first names that are identical to the first names of known left-wing radicals, essentially as role models. The team had discussed this intensively. They fundamentally condemn violence, Uthoff emphasized. At the same time, he posed the question of what happens when the state does not sufficiently enforce its monopoly on violence and people feel defenseless against far-right violence.

Host Maike Kühl explained that they would have wished for Danger Dan to perform and then face a discussion.

"We are on ZDF against ZDF"

Earlier, Kühl had summarized the show's special situation with a sentence that got to the heart of the conflict: "We are on ZDF against ZDF."

In parallel, the network attempted in a 16-minute special edition of "aspekte" titled "What can you still sing where? Danger Dan and ZDF" to provide journalistic context for its decision. Moderator Jo Schück led through six chapters - from the song to the legal assessment to the question "And now?".

Among those who spoke were the legal experts Peter Raue and Fabian Wittreck, cabaret artist Florian Schroeder, publicist Jan Fleischhauer, and Oliver Heidemann, head of ZDF's main entertainment editorial department.

While Raue saw the song as protected by artistic freedom and Schroeder described it as a provocative contribution to debate, Heidemann defended the network's decision. ZDF must ensure that its programs do not have an "inciting effect". Fleischhauer, in turn, said that an invitation would not have been justifiable given the song lyrics.

Danger Dan himself did not accept the network's invitation to an interview.

Criticism also on social media

The debate also continues on social media. Under ZDF's posts, numerous users criticized the network's decision. Particularly frequent was the reference to the fact that far-right positions regularly receive a platform on television talk shows. One widely shared comment read: "And next week far-right extremists will be sitting on ZDF talk shows again, as if it were completely normal..."

Other users pointed to different standards for satirical or provocative content. One comment asked ironically: "So will Dieter Nuhr also be canceled now?"

However, there were also critical voices toward Danger Dan and Igor Levit themselves. One user wrote: "Oh, Dan and Igor: When it affects you personally, it's suddenly censorship, scandalous and incompatible with freedom of speech and artistic expression. But when it affects colleagues who also advocate for human rights in Palestine and have been subjected to the worst repressions for three years - where was your solidarity then?" The comment ends with the accusation that the controversy is ultimately also "extremely good PR for the song".

Danger Dan and Igor Levit spoke out extensively after their cancellation. In a joint statement, they called ZDF's intervention "scandalous" and accused the network of interfering with freedom of speech and artistic expression. That individual lines of the song are being discussed is, from their perspective, explicitly intended: "That's part of democracy." They were all the more dismayed that their appearance was prevented at short notice.

Despite the cancellation, the two announced they would not be deterred. "We won't let this be forbidden", the statement says. Instead, they plan to perform the song "Keine Angst" together at their own event in Berlin.