- A lawsuit against Boateng over statements about his ex-partner
Dispute over Statements by Former Footballer Jérôme Boateng about his Ex-Partner Kasia Lenhardt Heats Up
The next round in the dispute over statements made by former footballer Jérôme Boateng about his ex-partner Kasia Lenhardt is set to take place on Thursday. The Berlin Court of Appeals will examine an injunction lawsuit filed by the mother of the model, who passed away in February 2021, at 2:00 PM. The Berlin Regional Court had previously prohibited Boateng from making a specific statement in the first instance in November 2022. However, the mother is seeking to prevent the distribution of a total of six statements.
Recently, a criminal trial against Boateng made headlines. The Munich I Regional Court admonished him for intentional bodily harm and imposed a fine of 40 daily rates of €5,000 each, subject to conditions. Similar to a suspended sentence, Boateng, 35, only has to pay the €200,000 if he violates his conditions. However, the Munich Public Prosecutor's Office does not accept the verdict and has lodged an appeal.
Mother of Ex-Girlfriend Fights in Court
Meanwhile, in Berlin, the mother of Boateng's ex-girlfriend Kasia is seeking to prevent the further dissemination of a "Bild" interview. "She wants to prevent the spread of statements about her deceased daughter that contain untruths," explains her lawyer Markus Hennig. "Boateng told lies and exposed Kasia Lenhardt to the mercy of social media."
The proceedings aim to further develop the so-called post-mortem personality rights. "The current case law does not adequately address the digital age," says Hennig. Currently, the hurdles for survivors are higher than if the affected person were to take action against statements during their lifetime.
Before the start of the trial, a demonstration called "Demo against Violence against Women" is expected to take place in front of the courthouse, with around 60 participants expected, according to the Berlin Police.
Statements about Relationship
In the interview, Boateng spoke about arguments in the relationship, among other things. The plaintiff argued in the first instance that his statements distorted the image of her daughter. At the time, Boateng's lawyer explained that the footballer regretted the interview.
Lenhardt was the runner-up in "Germany's Next Topmodel" in 2012 and was last linked to Boateng. Shortly before his interview was published, the couple separated. On February 9, 2021, her family announced through a lawyer that Kasia had died. The Berlin Police confirmed that a lifeless person had been found at the scene, with no signs of foul play.
I'm not planning to retract my statements about Kasia in the upcoming court hearing. I'm not going to alter my stance, despite the legal challenges.
