Kathrine Frich
Online satire often thrives on provocation, but it can just as quickly tip into controversy.
For some public figures, a single post is enough to reignite old debates about taste, limits and responsibility.
That was the case this week for a German satirist whose social media activity has repeatedly drawn fierce reactions.
A ketchup post
Sebastian Hotz, better known as El Hotzo, is once again facing backlash over a post shared on the platform X.
The 29-year-old comedian framed his joke as a harmless question about how people eat ketchup with their fries.
Alongside the question, he shared two illustrated versions of fries. One was labelled “Trump-style,” showing a small amount of ketchup on the side. The other, marked “Kirk-style,” depicted ketchup spread across the fries.
The references were widely interpreted as allusions to attacks involving US President Donald Trump and right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
Violent associations
Trump was injured in July 2024 when he was shot in the ear during a campaign event in Pennsylvania. Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck at a university event in Utah in September the same year and later died from his injuries.
Many users on X said the comparison crossed a line. One comment read: “How disgusting, pathetic and miserable can someone be? El Hotzo: YES!” Another wrote: “Anyone who makes fun of the death of people is an asshole. Period.”
A familiar pattern
This is not the first time El Hotzo has faced intense criticism online. In summer 2024, a post mocking Trump triggered his biggest backlash to date and ultimately led to the end of his collaboration with German broadcaster RBB.
At the time, prosecutors opened an investigation into whether the post amounted to condoning criminal acts. El Hotzo was acquitted by Berlin’s Tiergarten district court in July 2025.
Recent silence broken
In recent months, the comedian had largely disappeared from public debate. Late last year, several women accused him on social media of misconduct in past relationships.
El Hotzo apologised for his behaviour at the time and said he was seeking professional help.
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Sources: dpa, tag24.
