The comedian is closely associated with the German national team
A German comedian has been accused of racially abusing defender Jerome Boateng this week after appearing on mainstream television portraying the Bayern Munich centre-back in blackface.
Oliver Pocher, a stand-up comedian and television personality in Germany, appeared on national television with brown make up on his face, depicting Boateng "as a moron", according to German journalist Raphael Honigstein.
A controversial comedian, Pocher has been the subject of numerous scandals over the years. His late night TV show,
Die Oliver Pocher Show, was cancelled in 2011 for having consistently low ratings.
Despite this, he retains a large following, particularly on Instagram, where he has more than two million followers.
He is deeply embedded within the German Football Association, the DFB, and a song of his, entitled "Black and White" referring to the colours of Germany's kit, is played before most national team games.
The DFB have also played his videos on their official
YouTube channel during their short World Cup campaign.
https://instagram.com/p/BkQQ754AQNs/?utm_source=ig_embed
https://twitter.com/honigstein/status/1017738648907927553
Rather than be an isolated incident, Pocher has previous for donning blackface to portray Boateng during Euro 2016.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BF_aL_xJXuT/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BG4v8loJXia/
In an article on
Bavarian Football Works, SB Nation's Bayern Munich blog, the full extent of Pocher's stereotypical
blackface character is revealed, as Pocher portrays Boateng as an idiot incapable of telling his teammates apart.
Here's an example of the dialogue:
Hummels: “...we have to balance offensive force with defensive stability, and, um, I think, we have to play more intelligently, huh Jerome, right?”
Boateng: “How’s that?”
Hummels: “With our heads.”
Boateng: “I don’t understand.”
Hummels: “Think more.”
Boateng: “Why?”
Hummels: “Brains, with our brains.”
Boateng: (shrugs) “That’s not what I’d say.”
