Meme artist El Hotzo vindicated in German court against criminal allegations
In a landmark decision, the German court has acquitted comedian El Hotzo, who faced legal prosecution for his satirical posts about the failed assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald Trump. The comedian, known for his provocative humour, was charged under German criminal code section 140 for condoning a crime, as his posts could potentially disturb public peace given his large social media following.
The trial commenced in late July 2025, and the court ultimately ruled in El Hotzo's favour. Judge Andrea Wilms acknowledged the provocative nature of his comments but affirmed the role of satire and freedom of expression in German law. She stated that while his jokes were distasteful to some, they fell within the bounds of protected speech and satire rather than criminal hate speech or condoning violence.
El Hotzo, in a statement before the verdict, admitted that not all of his jokes hit the mark. However, he added that if bad jokes were against the law, the German legal system would be completely overwhelmed. He also expressed his views, stating, "I find it absolutely fantastic when fascists die."
The comedian's posts led to a wide-ranging outcry, with politicians reporting him, RBB ending its collaboration with him, and Elon Musk expressing outrage on Twitter. In a surprising turn of events, El Hotzo even posted a meme about Musk, joking about missing an opportunity to confront the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The caption of the meme read "leider knapp verpasst" or "sadly just missed."
Despite the controversy, El Hotzo's acquittal has been hailed as a victory for freedom of speech and satire in Germany. The case serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between protecting public peace and upholding the right to express controversial opinions.
[1] Source: German news outlet, Die Welt [2] Source: German news outlet, Spiegel Online [3] Source: German news outlet, Tagesspiegel
- "The controversial acquittal of comedian El Hotzo, who faced legal prosecution for his satirical posts, was extensively covered by German news outlets such as Die Welt, sparking debates on the intersection of humor, celebrities, and pop-culture with general news, crime-and-justice, and even social media entertainment."
- "El Hotzo's trial, which focused on whether his posts condoned a crime or were protected under freedom of expression, received significant attention in the entertainment world, with figures such as Elon Musk expressing their opinions on platforms like Twitter."
- "The acquittal of El Hotzo, while controversial, was welcomed by many as a victory for individual rights in pop-culture, with some pointing to its potential impact on the broader discussion of entertainment and crime-and-justice in contemporary Germany."
