In the 1980s, Hape Kerkeling was “urgently” advised to have a fake relationship with a woman. Alfred Biolek stopped him from doing so.
At the beginning of his career in the mid-1980s, cult entertainer Hape Kerkeling (59) was apparently advised to enter into a fake relationship with a woman. He tells this in his new book “Give me some time” (Piper Verlag). It says: “Another hurdle on the journey through life was that I gradually became aware that I was gay. I experienced this as unproblematic for myself and my family. Queer is nothing bad, it is the most normal thing in the world. It is even boring and unspectacular. Would it even be worth mentioning in a healthy, strong society?”
Hape Kerkeling was “urgently” advised to have a fake relationship with a woman
In his job, however, “editors, directors and those in charge constantly wanted to make a problem out of the fact that I absolutely did not want to go to bed with women,” says Kerkeling in his book. “My only answer to that is: No! I don’t want that. My sexual orientation is actually a cause for discussion behind the scenes at WDR. The broadcaster strongly recommends that I enter into a fake relationship with a woman.”
On “Give me some time,” the TV star added about the fake relationship demanded by outsiders: “The plans were already very advanced. They had chosen one of my best friends.” According to “Bild,” actress and singer Isabel Varell (63) was to become the public woman at his side. “We actually talked about it, but then decided against it. We didn’t want to block each other. And we just didn’t want to play these games,” Hape Kerkeling explained to the paper.
Alfred Biolek advised against
Kerkeling also told the magazine “Stern” about this time: “Fortunately, I had my fatherly friend Alfred Biolek, who stood by me and with whom I could always talk.” When he told him about the proposed fake relationship, Biolek said: “For God’s sake! Don’t start that!” Kerkeling added: “I took his advice. (…)”
Hape Kerkeling was finally outed on television in 1991, as was Alfred Biolek, by Rosa von Praunheim (81). The entertainer and bestselling author has been married to his husband Dirk Henning for seven years.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
