Overview
- Welke used Friday’s heute-show to call his April 24 quip about Howard Carpendale’s front-row fans a very doofy, unnecessary, old joke while avoiding a direct apology.
- Carpendale had posted an Instagram video after the April 24 broadcast accusing Welke of mocking people who cannot defend themselves and demanding an apology before any further dialogue.
- Explaining the context to Bild, Welke said the bit followed an AI caregiver-robot telling a bad joke and that he tried to top it with an even worse one, adding he has never been to a Carpendale concert.
- On air, Welke opened with Hello again, a Carpendale hit, then told viewers Carpendale’s fans are decent and smell wonderful as he promised he will not insult any singer anymore.
- The exchange has drawn wider attention, with entertainers like Ikke Hüftgold and Alec Voelkel weighing in, underscoring how TV moments now spill quickly into tabloids and social media.