Germans are not generally known for their sense of humor, but the Foreign Ministry has gone some way to counter that stereotype by poking fun at right-wing US media outlet Breitbart.
On Friday, Breitbart published an article headlined, “Spanish police crack gang moving migrants on jet-skis.” For reasons unknown, they chose to use an image of former German international footballer Lukas Podolski “as an illustration of a person on a jet ski” to highlight the existence of these alleged gangs.
Since Podolski is neither a people-smuggling gang member, nor a north African migrant, Breitbart had to apologize to the former Arsenal striker.
“There is no evidence Mr. Podolski is either a migrant gang member, nor being human trafficked. We wish Mr. Podolski well in his recently announced international retirement,” an editor’s note on an updated version of the article read.
While promoting an open day at the Federal Foreign Office on Facebook, the German ministry posted the same photo with the message, “Whether you are coming from Berlin, Hamburg, Munich or Cologne (Symbolfoto), we look forward to your visit.”
Adding that if guests planned on arriving via jet ski they should “please use the Fischer Island dock.”
The post seemingly struck a chord with Germans, gaining a respectable 3,500 likes since it was posted just after 10am Monday morning, and generating an interesting discussion in the comments, many of which applauded the office for its sense of humour.
“Nice move from the Foreign Office,” Damian Buschhüter commented.
“An office can also have a sense of humor,” Lars G. Kühn added.
“Even the ‘Foreign Office’ can be funny,” Elisabeth Schwan said.
Though many found Breitbart’s monumental gaffe quite funny, Podolski himself was reportedly none too amused, and according to his manager Nassim Touihri, is considering legal action against the publication.
“Lukas distances himself from it and won’t let himself be exploited. Our lawyer is already involved,” Touihri told German paper Bild.
