Cathy Hummels calls off book collaboration with her sibling
There's been some controversy surrounding Cathy Hummels' and her brother Sebastian Fischer's planned book on depression. A publisher had already unveiled the book's cover, but the project has come to a halt due to issues with Fischer's academic credentials. "Cathy Hummels, the publisher, and Sebastian Fischer have chosen not to proceed with the book together," stated Hummels' lawyer, Stefan Ventroni. Initially, the publisher remained silent on the matter, but according to "Bild," they too confirmed the project's cancellation.
Hummels, an influencer who openly shared her depression story, had planned a book titled "Emerging from the Shadows - Your Path to Escaping Depression" with her brother, a medical doctor. However, his doctoral title was mistakenly featured on the cover, even though he has not earned one.
Following media reports, the publisher removed the cover that hinted at an impending book release. "Until recently, the Südwest-Verlag had no reason to doubt that Fischer had not yet completed his dissertation," the publisher explained in early July. "Through recent research and the publisher's inquiry to Fischer, it has been confirmed that he currently lacks a doctoral title. As a result, the publisher removed the preliminary cover from the system."
Hummels had also addressed her brother as "Doctor" on Instagram. In a press release, her lawyer clarified that this wasn't an intentional misrepresentation to the public. "I referred to my brother as 'Doctor' on Instagram in 2018, believing that all doctors held this title," it stated. She claimed she wasn't trying to deceive anyone but was simply using his occupation as a title. She added that "for many people, including myself, 'Doctor' was just a job title."
Lawyer Ventroni declined to disclose the reasons for the book's abrupt cancellation, stating, "Please be understanding that we won't share further details."
Despite the controversy, Cathy Hummels and other family members might still consider publishing the book without Sebastian Fischer, given the significance of its content. It's essential for Fischer to address his academic misconduct openly and work towards rectifying his credentials to regain public trust.
