Young Delivery Workers Overcame On-set Attack
Actor Jan Josef Liefers opened up about his early acting days in a chat with the German "Playboy" mag, talking about the mistreatment he faced. He had to navigate through various injustices and misconduct until he could stand up for himself. Liefers went through experiences that would be front-page news in "Stern" or "Spiegel" today, such as power abuse and sexual misconduct. "It didn't feel right," he admitted.
Back then, these issues were often hushed up with the excuse, "apprenticeship years aren't master years." However, Liefers avoided painting the past with an entirely negative brush. "We learn and grow through struggles, not praise," he said. The #MeToo movement put an end to the "unbounded male pleasure," which he thinks is necessary. But: "Now some guys are extra cautious when complimenting a woman, fearing backlash." Liefers even knows men who exit an elevator when alone with a stranger. However, he remains hopeful we'll find "bold and appropriate interactions" once again.
"Cancel culture is the wrong approach"
Liefers also criticized cancel culture, the prejudged exclusion of individuals who make offensive or discriminatory comments or actions. He considered it a misguided approach: "It might briefly promote an idea, but it eventually harms society." Cancel culture, in Liefers' view, is a form of suppression, similar to what the "Tatort" star thinks should be regulated by laws, not activists.
"I don't believe in cancelling, I believe in the rule of law," Liefers declared. He saw it as dangerous to establish a second justice system based on trending ideals and evolving moral standards, where accusations suffice and defenses are deemed unnecessary. "You can't advocate for diversity, but demand uniformity. That's definitely the flaw in these activists' arguments, but the woke movement does have points worth supporting," Liefers concluded.
Despite the harsh realities he faced in his early acting days, Liefers acknowledges that The entertainment industry can also serve as a platform for learning and growth. Cancel culture, he believes, is not the solution for addressing offensive or discriminatory behavior; rather, he advocates for the rule of law.
