German comedian Jan Böhmermann is under police protection, German media reported Tuesday, as the fallout continues from the March 31 broadcast in which he called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a “goat-f—-er.”
Thursday’s edition of the weekly late-night show “Neo Magazin Royale” — where Böhmermann last month called Erdoğan a “pervert,” “zoophile” and a “goat-f—-er” — has been canceled, and Hamburger Morgenpost and Die Welt reported Tuesday that a police patrol car has been stationed outside the comic’s home in Cologne.
Turkey formally requested Germany file criminal charges against the comedian Sunday, the German government said Monday. The government is considering whether to charge Böhmermann with defaming a foreign head of state, putting Chancellor Angela Merkel in a difficult position as she tries to keep Turkey onside to deal with Europe’s migration crisis.
Böhmermann and production company btf GmbH announced on Facebook Tuesday that Thursday’s edition of Neo Magazin Royale has been canceled.
“The reason is the massive coverage and the associated focus on the program and the host,” the post read.
The decision was reportedly taken in coordination with ZDF, the public broadcaster of Neo Magazin Royale.
“We respect the decision of the production company and Jan Böhmermann’s and understand the reasons,” the station said.
Wir respektieren die Entscheidung d. Produktionsfirma + Jan Böhmermann und haben Verständnis für deren Begründung
https://t.co/4y3ri1CY5G— ZDFneo (@ZDFneo) April 12, 2016