At a right-wing concert in eastern Germany, the former reality TV star was found guilty of making the unlawful gesture multiple times. She disputes that, claiming instead that she was merely energizing the audience.
Melanie Müller declares that she is not sympathetic to right-wing or nationalist beliefs.
Image: Picture Alliance/DPA/Jan Woitas
Melanie Müller, a former reality TV star who is now a pop singer, was fined €80,000 ($89,000) by the Leipzig District Court on Friday for possessing drugs and acting inappropriately during a concert in the city in September of 2022.
Video recordings of the event show Müller repeatedly raising her right arm in a gesture reminiscent of the so-called Hitler salute during a Leipzig concert for a crowd with right-wing ties.
Judge Lucas Findeisen found Müller guilty of “using the symbols of unconstitutional or terrorist organizations” despite the defense’s assertions that she has no right-wing sympathies or viewpoints.
In addition, Müller was found guilty of possessing cocaine and ecstasy. The fine far outweighed the €5,700 fine that the prosecution had demanded.
The defense, which requested Müller’s acquittal, claimed Müller was only chanting and pumping her fist to incite the crowd.
Judge asserts that singer was competent
Judge Findeisen, however, stated that footage shown to the court made it abundantly evident that Müller had catered to the mood of the gathering by altering her hand gesture and playing a game of call and response in which she chanted “Zicke” and the audience responded with “Heil” (hail), echoing Nazi chants of “Sieg” and “Heil.”
In addition, the singer claimed—a claim that the court dismissed—that the drugs discovered during an apartment search belonged to a friend.
Müller’s attorney predicted that an acquittal would help his “client regain her [financial] footing in Germany,” claiming that negative media bias had damaged Müller’s career.
Melanie Müller, a well-known figure in Germany thanks to her victories on reality TV shows like “Jungle Camp” and “Big Brother,” used to give frequent performances in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Mallorca, a Spanish island that attracts a lot of German tourists who like heavy drinking.
When the judge inquired about Müller’s current tour schedule, she said, “Right now, I just have gigs in Mallorca.” Everything else is gone.”
