--- title: "Thorsten Legat criticises Chancellor Merz, quits reality TV" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/thorsten-legat-criticises-chancellor-merz-quits-reality-tv" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/thorsten-legat-criticises-chancellor-merz-quits-reality-tv" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/thorsten-legat-criticises-chancellor-merz-quits-reality-tv.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/thorsten-legat-criticises-chancellor-merz-quits-reality-tv" category: "Politics" published: "2026-08-21T13:45:46.559Z" source_reported: "2026-08-21T12:53:02.975Z" updated: "2026-08-21T13:45:46.559Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-21T13:45:23.702074+00:00" --- # Thorsten Legat criticises Chancellor Merz, quits reality TV *Former footballer expresses shame at being German and fear of the AfD's rise.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claims attributed to named body, but no documents or independent outlets cited. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Quotes from affected person, but no right of reply or comment on what happens next. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headline promises sharp criticism, but the body details a more measured critique. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Thorsten Legat, a former professional footballer and reality TV personality, has publicly criticised Chancellor Friedrich Merz. - Legat stated he is ashamed to be German and expressed fear regarding the growing influence of the AfD. - The former footballer announced his decision to withdraw from all reality television programmes. - Legat's comments were made in an interview with the 'Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung'. Thorsten Legat, a former Bundesliga player and reality television personality, has voiced strong criticism of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the current government. Legat stated that he is ashamed to be German and fears the rise of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. He also announced his intention to cease appearing in reality television shows. ## Disagreement on Merz's effectiveness Legat criticised Chancellor Merz's governance, with reports differing on the specific wording used. Merkur.de and Focus.de reported Legat saying Merz "doesn't know how to govern this country" and that "nothing happens" despite promises of change. Derwesten.de quoted Legat as saying Merz is the "puppet of Germany" and that "no one takes him seriously anymore." Welt.de reported Legat stating Merz is the "puppet of Germany" and that the chancellor is "not taken seriously anymore." ## What the coverage left out None of the centre or right-rated reports mentioned Thorsten Legat's specific criticism of reality TV productions for allowing "cheap" TikTokers to take up places or his statement that "I am real and do not do something like that" in reference to his competitors on "Villa der Versuchung." ## Who covered it Shares of the 8 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 62% (5) - Right: 38% (3) 4 of 12 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-21T13:45:23.702074+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 2 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-21T14:15:34.355Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports led with Thorsten Legat's criticism of Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his statement of shame at being German. These reports highlighted Legat's fear of the AfD's growing influence and his decision to quit reality television. Merkur.de and Derwesten.de provided extensive details from the interview, including Legat's specific criticisms of Merz's comments on the German work ethic and his remarks about his children's investments. Derwesten.de also included a detailed career summary of Legat's football achievements and his past reality TV appearances, alongside his positive comments about Jürgen Klopp potentially becoming the national coach. Tagesspiegel.de, Wz.de, and Mannheim24.de focused on Legat's sharp criticism of the Chancellor and his shame at being German, also mentioning his desire to stop reality TV. ### Right - Right-rated reports focused on Thorsten Legat's criticism of Chancellor Merz and his declaration of shame at being German. Bild.de and Welt.de specifically quoted Legat calling Merz the "puppet of Germany" and stating that "no one takes him seriously anymore." Welt.de also noted Legat's fear of the AfD's rise and his conscious decision to turn his back on Germany. Focus.de's report centred on Legat's anticipation of leaving reality TV, mentioning his past entertainment value. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 5 - unknown: 5 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [mainwelle.de](https://mainwelle.de/reality-star-thorsten-legat-teilt-gegen-friedrich-merz-aus-2389173) — Reality Star Thorsten Legat Splits Against Friedrich Merz - [Der Tagesspiegel](https://tagesspiegel.de/gesellschaft/panorama/interview-reality-star-thorsten-legat-teilt-gegen-friedrich-merz-aus-15969047.html) — Interview: Reality Star Thorsten Legat Shares Against Friedrich Merz - [inFranken.de](https://infranken.de/ueberregional/newsticker-national/panorama/reality-star-thorsten-legat-teilt-gegen-friedrich-merz-aus-art-6390105) — Reality Star Thorsten Legat Splits Against Friedrich Merz - [wz.de](https://wz.de/panorama/reality-star-thorsten-legat-teilt-gegen-friedrich-merz-aus_aid-153513661) — Reality Star Thorsten Legat Splits Against Friedrich Merz - [mannheim24.de](https://mannheim24.de/promi-show/thorsten-legat-attackiert-regierung-und-kanzler-merz-schaeme-mich-deutscher-zu-sein-zr-94453726.html) — Thorsten Legat Attacks Government and Chancellor Merz: "Schäme Mich, Deutscher Zu Sein" - [merkur.de](https://merkur.de/boulevard/thorsten-legat-attackiert-regierung-und-kanzler-merz-schaeme-mich-deutscher-zu-sein-zr-94453726.html) — Thorsten Legat Attacks Government and Chancellor Merz: "Schäme Mich, Deutscher Zu Sein" - [derwesten.de](https://derwesten.de/aktuelles/merz-thorsten-legat-ex-fussballer-schaemt-sich-deutscher-id302140878.html) — "I'm Ashamed to Be a German: Ex-Footballer Reckons with Merz - [focus.de](https://focus.de/kultur/stars/thorsten-legat-rechnet-mit-reality-tv-ab-damit-ist-schluss_85282d98-6ae8-4a8c-ba49-8f9f78401dfb.html) — Thorsten Legat Anticipates Reality TV: "That's the End of it." - [Bild](https://bild.de/politik/inland/thorsten-legat-attackiert-merz-da-schaeme-ich-mich-deutscher-zu-sein-6a87f7977b97809e93f3fa03) — Thorsten Legat Attacks Merz: "I Am Ashamed to Be a German." - [Blick](https://blick.ch/people-tv/international/es-war-eine-lehre-fuer-mich-ex-fussballstar-hat-die-schnauze-voll-von-reality-tv-id22199192.html) — Ex-Footballer Thorsten Legat Has Had Enough of Reality TV - [gala.de](https://gala.de/lifestyle/film-tv-musik/nie-wieder-reality-tv---thorsten-legat-geht-in--kasalla--rente-24661472.html) — Thorsten Legat Goes to "Kasalla" Pension - [Welt](https://welt.de/sport/article6a87ce3dc3692834ff6d7d3e/thorsten-legat-merz-ist-marionette-deutschlands-ex-profi-schaemt-sich-deutscher-zu-sein.html) — Thorsten Legat: "Merz Is Marionette of Germany" – Ex-Professional "Astonished to Be German" ## Questions **What did Thorsten Legat say about Chancellor Merz?** Thorsten Legat criticised Chancellor Friedrich Merz, stating that he does not know how to govern the country effectively and that nothing has happened despite promises of change. Some reports quote Legat calling Merz the "puppet of Germany" and saying that "no one takes him seriously anymore." **Why is Thorsten Legat ashamed to be German?** Legat expressed shame at being German in response to Chancellor Merz's comments on the German work ethic, which Legat found to be out of touch with reality. He also cited the political situation and the rise of the AfD as reasons for his feelings. **What is Thorsten Legat's stance on reality television?** Thorsten Legat announced that he is withdrawing from reality television, stating that he will not be seen on such programmes again. He described his past participation as a learning experience but expressed a desire to have no further involvement with people in that sphere. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/thorsten-legat-criticises-chancellor-merz-quits-reality-tv. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Thorsten Legat criticises Chancellor Merz, quits reality TV", https://mediabias.news/politics/thorsten-legat-criticises-chancellor-merz-quits-reality-tv