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Protests against Rammstein performance in Munich

Photo: Sven Hoppe / dpa

With her report of experiences at a concert of the German band Rammstein, the Irishwoman Shelby Lynn had triggered a MeToo scandal around frontman Till Lindemann. Her stories about the singer and his alleged transgressions have encouraged more young women to go public almost every day in recent weeks. (Read SPIEGEL's extensive research on the Rammstein case here.)

Now Lynn apparently received mail from the lawyer.

In an interview with the NDR and the »Süddeutsche Zeitung«, the 24-year-old revealed that she recently received a cease-and-desist letter from the law firm representing Lindemann. But she doesn't care: "Make me bankrupt. I don't care. Take me to court. I'm not afraid," Lynn is quoted as saying. Rammstein have a lot to lose and a lot to hide. "I have nothing to hide."

Bruises all over the body

Lynn had reported on social media what had happened to her at a Rammstein concert in the Lithuanian city of Vilnius. According to the report, an employee brought her to a small room during a break in the performance, where she met Lindemann. When she refused to have sex with him, he reacted aggressively and yelled at her. The next day, according to her own statements, she woke up with bruises all over her body and a sketchy memory.

She suspects that the alcohol she was offered at a "pre-party" may have contained knockout drops. As the »Bild« newspaper reports, the police in Vilnius are currently not investigating Lindemann.

More on the subject

  • Allegations against Rammstein: Sex, power, alcohol – what the young women from »Row Zero« report

  • Reporting on Till Lindemann: Journalists' Association accuses law firm of intimidation

  • Minister of State for Culture Roth on the Rammstein case: "Superstars are not above law and order"By Christoph Schult

  • Rammstein in Munich:A song remains unplayedBy Jan Friedmann and Maria Christoph, Munich

In the meantime, the singer has hired the media lawyer Christian Schertz, who defends himself against the reports with harsh words: "These allegations are invariably untrue. We will immediately take legal action against the individuals for all allegations of this kind." In Lynn's case, this has apparently already happened.

"With all the severity of the law"

In the meantime, there are more and more voices from politicians calling for an investigation into the allegations. The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Claudia Roth (Greens), for example, told SPIEGEL: "The times of evil machismo combined with abuse of power to sexualized violence should really and definitely be over." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is also following reports about Rammstein, according to the government spokesman. These are allegations "that need to be clarified".

Katja Mast, the first parliamentary secretary of the SPD, is shocked in a new statement: "It would be appalling if what comes to light almost hourly in the Rammstein case comes to light comes true." Maximum education is now the order of the day. Where crimes and sexual assaults have been committed, the consequence must be reacted to "with all the severity of the law". The protection of women and minors would now be the top priority, for example with the implementation of a "court-admissible, confidential preservation of evidence", which the coalition wants to take care of.

Rai