German pop singer Melanie Müller has once again appeared before a court following accusations that she repeatedly performed the Hitler salute during one of her concerts in 2022. The case, which had already resulted in a significant financial penalty, returned to court and ended with a renewed conviction on appeal. The Leipzig Regional Court confirmed the former RTL “jungle queen’s” guilt for using symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations, as well as for drug possession.
Presiding judge Karen Aust explained that at the end of a concert, Müller allowed herself to be carried by the crowd and repeatedly raised her right arm, a gesture the court deemed unmistakable in that context. In the initial trial, the Leipzig District Court had imposed a fine of 80,000 euros. At the time, the judge estimated Müller’s monthly income at around 15,000 euros, citing what was described as a “conspicuously luxurious lifestyle,” after the singer failed to provide concrete information about her earnings. During the appeal proceedings, Müller’s financial situation was assessed differently.
The singer stated that she had very few performances and earned only about 1,500 euros net per month from part-time employment. According to her testimony, she manages to make ends meet only with financial support from her parents and her partner. Müller’s defense emphasized that she does not hold right-wing views and argued that the controversial gesture was intended solely to encourage the audience. Her lawyer claimed that Müller frequently uses arm movements during concerts to accompany the chant “Zicke Zacke, Zicke Zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi,” without any political meaning.
The court rejected this explanation. According to the ruling, during the concert on September 18, 2022, in Leipzig, Müller stood silently on stage without musical accompaniment, which clearly distinguished the moment from similar gestures made during performances. The judge described the incident as a “momentary lapse,” adding that alcohol consumption likely contributed to her behavior.
Regarding the drugs found in her possession, the defense argued that they belonged to a friend who had left them behind during a visit. The court did not accept this claim and concluded that Müller was responsible for the drugs. Ultimately, the court sentenced Müller to a fine of 70 daily rates of 50 euros each, totaling 3,500 euros, largely following the prosecution’s request.
The verdict is not yet final and may still be appealed to a higher regional court. Following the investigations, Müller publicly distanced herself from right-wing extremists and stated that she has no connection to extremist ideologies.
