Outcry after controversial publication about Michael Schumacher in German press

German Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher here at the Silverstone circuit, England, July 6, 2012. AP - Tom Hevezi

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

Hardly a week in Germany goes by without former Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher making headlines. More than nine years after his serious skiing accident, the athlete lives in seclusion surrounded by his family, without any information on his state of health being known. But on April 19, a magazine caused a scandal by publishing a made-up interview with the champion.

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With our correspondent in Berlin, Pascal Thibaut

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Michael Schumacher, the first interview ": the front page of the magazine Die Aktuelle of April 19 did not go unnoticed. In the inside pages, old photos of the Formula 1 racer and questions about his health were discovered. At the end of the text, the pot of roses was revealed: the answers were not by Michael Schumacher but a product of artificial intelligence.

Ironically, the same magazine was warming up fake photos of the pope and Donald Trump on the next page, made with the same technological tool.

Nine years after his accident, Michael Schumacher is still selling in the press

The family of the seven-time world champion attacked the magazine. The management of the Funke press group, to which he belongs, apologized to the Schumacher family and thanked the editor-in-chief, Anne Hoffmann. A statement said: "This distasteful and erroneous article should never have been published; It does not correspond in any way to the quality criteria of our publishing house.

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This cheap press, which sells very well, includes its legal fees in its production costs from the outset. Fines for convictions remain bearable. Michael Schumacher's family has, in recent years, sued many newspapers. This "rainbow" press, as it is called in Germany, exploits the popularity of the sportsman. Two years ago, a colleague counted 400 front pages of magazines devoted to Michael Schumacher.

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Read on on the same topics:

  • Germany
  • Sports
  • Motorsport
  • Artificial intelligence